Ukrainian evacuees from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky arrived in Ukraine after a 19-hour journey, reunite with families after years trapped in a worsening humanitarian crisis. The operation, facilitated by a rare ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, allowed 750 people to escape the city that had been under Russian control since 2022.
The evacuees, who had been living in constant fear under Russian occupation, arrived at the Ukraine-Belarus border in Chernihiv Oblast. Many were emotionally distraught, with some sobbing as they embraced relatives they had not seen for years. The operation, which took place on Oct. 31, 2026, marked the first time in four years that the frontline region of Kherson had seen peace.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Melania Trump for her role in brokering the ceasefire, which allowed humanitarian aid to reach the city. The operation, which involved 25 buses and ambulances, came as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 left Oleshky's 24,000 residents in dire straits, with many surviving on garden weeds and hunting animals.
The humanitarian ceasefire, which will last until Nov. 1, 2026, allows residents to begin rebuilding their lives. Many evacuees, including a 94-year-old man and a one-year-old child, will now have to navigate the challenges of reestablishing themselves in Ukraine, with some facing the daunting task of finding new homes and jobs.