Brief ceasefire lets 180 people flee Kherson riverside kill zone

During a short cease‑fire that began on Oct. 27, Ukrainian officials and aid groups were able to evacuate 180 people, including 23 children, from riverside villages and the city of Kherson in the region’s designated red zone.

Residents such as 53‑year‑old Nataliya Diadiuk signaled their civilian status to Russian drone operators by displaying a white towel on their gate and holding a white rag, hoping to avoid attacks.

The operation was coordinated by regional officials, police, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society and volunteers, with civil‑military specialists facilitating access to the isolated area.

Despite the evacuation, roughly 140,000 people remain in the Ukrainian‑controlled part of Kherson, where the cease‑fire has ended and drones, artillery and mines continue to threaten daily life.