Residents of the Russian-held town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine began evacuating on Friday as part of a joint humanitarian operation between Moscow and Kyiv, marking the first operation of its kind in four years and eight months of war.
The evacuation followed a local ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, which allowed an aid convoy to enter the town and gave residents the opportunity to leave.
Despite being a rare example of cooperation between the warring sides, the Kremlin described the operation as an isolated case that was difficult to extend to broader efforts to reach a peace settlement.
Meanwhile, Russian attacks continued elsewhere in Ukraine. Officials said overnight strikes targeted seven regions, as well as the capital Kyiv and the southeastern city of Dnipro. Russia also claimed to have shot down 1,043 Ukrainian drones over its territory during the night.
Evacuation Buses Arrive as Roads Are Cleared of Landmines
Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova said groups of residents had begun boarding evacuation buses, with some choosing to travel to Russia and others heading to Ukraine.
The exact number of evacuees and how many residents had decided to remain in the town were not immediately clear.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergiy Koretsky told parliament that residents choosing to return to Ukraine would travel through Russia and Belarus before entering the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions.
Lantratova, appearing alongside her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Lubinets, said the aid convoy was delivering food, hygiene products, medical supplies and fuel.
Lubinets confirmed that assistance would be provided to everyone in need, regardless of whether they wished to travel to Ukraine or Russia.
The operation was preceded by demining work along roads leading into Oleshky. Lantratova said a Russian explosives specialist and another person were killed during the operations.
She added that 25 buses had been prepared for the evacuation, including special arrangements for bedridden residents. Around 50 medical personnel were also present, while one bus was equipped with cages for people wishing to take their pets.
Oleshky Residents Face Severe Humanitarian Conditions
Located on the Dnipro River opposite the city of Kherson, Oleshky was captured by Russian forces during the first days of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The town has suffered extensive damage and severe flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023.
Residents have described dangerous journeys along roads filled with landmines in search of food and water. One route became known as the “Road of Death.” Some residents reportedly survived on just a cup of rice or buckwheat a day, sometimes supplemented with tomatoes, cucumbers or wild plants.
The local ceasefire covering Oleshky and the Kherson region came into effect on Tuesday.
Lubinets described it as the first ceasefire since 2022 to cover such an extensive section of the front line and remain in place for a significant period.
Kremlin Rules Out Broader Implications for Peace Talks
The joint humanitarian operation demonstrated that Russia and Ukraine can coordinate on specific issues despite the continuing war and intensified long-range airstrikes this year.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged a high level of coordination between Lantratova and Lubinets. However, he cautioned against interpreting the operation as a sign of progress toward a broader political settlement.
“This is an isolated situation, which is difficult to extrapolate to the entire settlement process at this stage,” Peskov said.
Pope Leo had urged Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone call on October 16 to arrange a ceasefire to allow food and supplies into Oleshky. He followed up three days later in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Both Moscow and Kyiv have credited Melania Trump with helping secure the agreement and have repeatedly praised her involvement.
Russia and Ukraine Remain Divided Over Peace Terms
The humanitarian operation comes as fundamental disagreements between Moscow and Kyiv continue to complicate efforts to end the war.
US-mediated peace talks are scheduled to resume next month in Abu Dhabi, marking the first such meeting since February.
Russia hopes US President Donald Trump will pressure Kyiv into accepting an agreement that includes several of Moscow’s key demands, including full Russian control over Ukraine’s Donbas region and a commitment preventing Ukraine from joining NATO.
Ukraine, meanwhile, wants guarantees that US intelligence sharing will continue, along with full access to Starshield, Elon Musk’s battlefield communications system, and the continued delivery of US-made military equipment purchased by European countries, including Patriot interceptor missiles.
