Starved and exhausted residents of the Russian‑occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian territory on Saturday after a six‑day ceasefire that was mediated by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV. The truce, the longest local pause in the fighting since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022, allowed civilians to leave the besieged area and reunite with family members at an undisclosed location in the Chernihiv region.
In a major evacuation operation, people wrapped in blue and yellow Ukrainian flags stepped off buses at the Ukrainian‑Belarusian border in mass groups, while Ukrainian officials lined the highway with posters saying “You’re not alone” and “We embrace with our hearts.” Residents from nearby villages gathered waving flags and flashlights to greet the evacuees.
For months, supply routes to Oleshky had been cut off by fighting and drone attacks. Food deliveries stopped in May, forcing hundreds of people to resort to eating grass and garden weeds to survive. According to an elderly man in a wheelchair, he had lost 20 kg (44 lbs) over the past year and became too weak to walk, requiring hospital treatment.
"We chopped grass and squash… just to hold on," said Svitlana Yermakova, one of the evacuees, according to Reuters. She added that she had ridden by bicycle through minefields toward a nearby village to get food for herself and her dog.
The evacuation route was complex: evacuees first crossed into Crimea by bus to the Russian town of Anapa, then flew to Belarus before crossing into Ukrainian-held territory. Ambulances and large military tents were set up along the way, providing hot meals, tea and medical aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the United States and the first lady for mediating the truce on X, writing, “All of them will receive the assistance they need.” He added that further steps toward de‑escalation and real progress toward peace were also needed.
Russian and Ukrainian officials say the ceasefire in Oleshky has held since Tuesday, allowing de‑mining crews to clear roads and bring food, medicines and other supplies back into the town. The truce also marked the longest pause in local fighting since the 2022 invasion.
While many evacuees reunited with loved ones, some chose to stay behind in Oleshky amid ongoing shortages, highlighting the continuing humanitarian crisis that persists even after the brief pause.
