750 residents of Russian-occupied Oleshky evacuated under a US-brokered ceasefire, with both sides reporting smooth operations. The evacuation followed a four-day truce, the longest since Russia's 2022 invasion, allowing residents to leave the war-ravaged town.
Ukrainian and Russian officials visited Oleshky together, delivering aid and assisting evacuees. Residents were given a four-hour window to leave, with 25 buses and nine ambulances deployed. The evacuees will travel to Anapa, then to Belarus and eventually back to Ukraine.
The ceasefire, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, allowed for humanitarian aid and evacuations. Both sides confirmed the operation was conducted without incidents, with Russia stating everything went smoothly. The pre-war population of Oleshky has dropped from 24,000 to about 2,000.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and Russian representative Yana Lantratova worked together to ensure the evacuation. Lubinets, the first Ukrainian official to visit Russian-occupied territory, emphasized the importance of the joint effort. Both sides agreed to continue the humanitarian mission under the coordination of Melania Trump.