Families reunite as evacuation from Oleshky concludes amidst truce

Evacuees, many draped in Ukrainian flags, were greeted by joyous reunions with family members at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border. Volunteers offered refreshments and welcoming signs, while residents of nearby villages lined the roads, displaying flags and flashlights in a show of support.

“We love them, we love them,” said Tetiana Leonidivna, 71, expressing gratitude to the Ukrainian soldiers who facilitated her escape. “We know that they are protecting us. And a deep bow to them, and a deep bow to their parents, for having such children. I am proud, I am simply proud.”

The ceasefire in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region commenced Tuesday and was scheduled to last until Sunday evening. The truce facilitated the evacuation of residents from Oleshky, a city where approximately 2,000 people remained.

According to Ivan Yevhenovych, 48, life in Oleshky had become increasingly perilous. “It was very difficult. There were a lot of drones; it was hard to move around the streets,” he recounted. “Since spring, there hasn’t really been any staple food left.”

Residents were given the option to evacuate to either Ukrainian- or Russian-controlled territory, or to remain in the city with provisions. Many chose to stay, citing attachments to their homes and animals.

Melania Trump, the US first lady, reportedly played a role in brokering the localized agreement, while Pope Leo XIV also advocated for aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets described the operation as a success, noting that evacuees ranged in age from one year old to 94, and included pets such as dogs, cats, a parrot, and a raccoon.

Some evacuees have been transported to a temporary shelter in Simferopol, Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Yana Lantratova, Russia’s human rights commissioner, emphasized the need for ongoing support beyond basic necessities, including document replacement, medical care, and housing assistance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the US approval of a $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, but stressed the urgency of providing weapons from existing stockpiles. He highlighted ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which have left hundreds of thousands of households without power.

Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack resulted in the deaths of a 30-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man in Russia’s Bryansk region, according to local officials. Drone attacks were also reported in Bashkortostan, with reports of a fire in Ufa.

Zelenskyy urged international partners to impose further sanctions on Russia and provide additional support to Ukraine.