Evacuees from Oleshky Cross into Ukraine Amid Truce

Evacuees from the Russian‑occupied town of Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian‑held territory on Saturday after a ceasefire began in the Kherson region at 3 a.m. Tuesday. The civilians travelled by bus and plane through Russia and Belarus, following a deal brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump. Ukrainian authorities kept the number of evacuees and the border crossing location confidential to protect those who chose to remain in Oleshky and to safeguard future humanitarian missions. The estimated 2,000 residents of Oleshky were offered the choice of traveling to Ukrainian‑ or Russian‑held territory, or staying in the city with replenished supplies. Those who opted to return to Ukraine were taken to the Russian city of Anapa, then flown to Homel in Belarus, from where they proceeded back home. Relatives waited at the Ukrainian‑Belarusian border with aid tents, coffee stands and provisions for pets. Volunteers from the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and the World Central Kitchen were present, and Russian officials reported that buses also transported residents who wanted to live in Russia. Russian media showed civilians arriving at a temporary accommodation site in Simferopol, Crimea. U.S. officials posted that the humanitarian convoy could safely evacuate more than 750 people. The operation was part of a broader effort to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations, with Pope Leo XIV also urging Russian and Ukrainian leaders to cooperate.