Ukraine moves 167 civilians from Kherson as Oleshky truce ends

Ukrainian forces evacuated 167 residents from threatened areas of southern Kherson region on Sunday. This occurred as a temporary ceasefire in the Russian-held town of Oleshky approached its expiration at midnight Moscow time, or 2100 GMT. The military identified the group as including 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility who required special assistance. The General Staff stated that units from the South group of forces coordinated with local authorities to move these individuals to safer points within the region.

The six-day local truce was the longest pause in fighting since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. It resulted from mediation efforts led by US First Lady Melania Trump and involving Pope Leo. Both Ukrainian and Russian officials reported that the ceasefire held without violations from Tuesday onward. This stability allowed military teams to clear mines from roads and enabled the delivery of food, medicines, and other supplies into Oleshky.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of Kherson region, urged residents to remain vigilant as the agreement neared its end. He warned against visiting areas near the Dnipro River, which he designated as red zones. Prokudin noted that the intensity of Russian strikes in those settlements remained high, creating an extremely high threat to life. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia viewed the Oleshky operation positively. He also cited good coordination between the two countries’ human rights commissioners.

On Saturday, exhausted residents of Oleshky crossed into Ukraine after a complex journey from the front line. Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said 25 buses and nine ambulances initially transported those wishing to leave to Crimea. From there, the groups split into separate convoys. Some residents traveled by bus via Crimea to the Russian town of Anapa, then flew to Belarus before continuing to Ukraine. Others moved directly toward Ukrainian-held territory. It remained unclear how many residents chose to stay in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River opposite the Ukrainian-held city of Kherson.

Melania Trump wrote on X that the ceasefire gave residents freedom of movement and access to food, clean water, and medicine. She described the arrangement as providing a renewed sense of dignity without the constant threat of attack. Pope Leo expressed hope that the cooperation in implementing the Oleshky ceasefire would pave the way for broader peace efforts between the two nations.

Military action continued in other parts of Ukraine on Sunday. Regional governors and emergency services reported one death in a strike in Sumy region, which borders Russia. They also reported at least one death in Vinnytsia, a central region. Russian forces had taken control of Oleshky immediately after the February 2022 invasion. Ukrainian troops later recaptured much of the surrounding region, including the main town of Kherson, later that year.