Ukraine Evacuation Operation Underway After Six-Day Ceasefire

A major evacuation operation has been carried out in Ukraine, as hundreds of civilians from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky have crossed into Ukrainian territory under a six-day ceasefire brokered by international mediators.

The humanitarian truce, which marks the longest local pause in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was facilitated through efforts led by US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV. This development has brought relief to the embattled residents who had been trapped under Russian occupation for an extended period.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude on social media for the mediation efforts, stating that Ukrainian citizens from Oleshky have safely crossed into the Chernihiv region. He acknowledged the assistance provided by the United States and First Lady Trump in securing this humanitarian truce.

The evacuees, wrapped in blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, were welcomed with open arms at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border as they stepped off buses to reunite with their family members.

Ukrainian officials greeted them with heartfelt messages of support displayed on posters, while residents from nearby villages lined the highway waving flags and flashlights to show solidarity with the returning evacuees.

The desperate situation in Oleshky has left many residents on the brink of starvation due to disrupted supply routes caused by fighting and drones. Food deliveries were halted as early as May, pushing hundreds of people into a state of severe malnutrition.

One evacuee spoke candidly about his own ordeal, revealing that he had lost an astonishing 20 kilograms in just one year, forcing him to seek hospital treatment due to extreme weakness. His condition was so dire that even basic tasks became a struggle, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

Another evacuee recounted the gruesome measures she took to survive, including eating grass and squash to sustain herself and her dog. In an act of desperation, she even risked navigating minefields on a bicycle to reach a nearby village in search of food.

The route out of Oleshky is fraught with danger, requiring residents to travel through Crimea by bus before flying to Belarus and finally crossing into Ukrainian-held territory. The return journey has been facilitated by the establishment of ambulances and medical tents along the way, providing hot meals, tea, and essential aid to those in need.

The truce currently in place is set to expire on Sunday evening, marking a crucial deadline for the fragile ceasefire in Oleshky.

Meanwhile, some residents have opted to remain in the occupied town despite the ongoing shortages of basic necessities such as gas, electricity and running water. The living conditions in Oleshky are still considered difficult by Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova, who has pledged to continue working with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Lubinets to provide aid to those who chose to stay.

The humanitarian efforts will be sustained through regular missions, according to a statement from Commissioner Lantratova, who noted that the mission had reached its end.