Residents have begun leaving the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, as a local ceasefire entered its fourth day on Friday. The evacuation, a rare instance of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow, is being conducted under a deal brokered with international involvement.
Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia confirmed that a convoy carrying evacuees had departed Oleshky and was heading towards Anapa, a Russian city on the Black Sea coast. From there, the evacuees are expected to fly to Belarus and then continue by bus into Ukrainian-controlled territory, according to Ukrainian public television.
The humanitarian operation, which brought 25 buses and several ambulances into the war-torn city, also delivered food and medicine to the approximately 2,000 residents who remain. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's presidential office, said in an online post that the operation was underway, though he is not part of the negotiating team on the ground.
Russia's human rights ombudsman, Yana Lantratova, said in a video on Telegram that the mission was nearing completion, with a convoy carrying those who wished to leave heading towards Russian-held territory. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets was also present, speaking with residents during the evacuation.
A fragile truce in a destroyed town
The local ceasefire, which is expected to hold until Sunday evening, has allowed for this rare moment of cooperation. In separate but identical statements, Russia and Ukraine said: "Everyone who wishes to leave Oleshky will have the opportunity to do so safely. Those who choose to stay may remain and will receive all the humanitarian support they need."
Despite the proximity of Ukrainian-controlled territory just across the Dnipro River, the evacuation route is circuitous, forcing evacuees to travel hundreds of kilometres through Russia and Belarus before entering northern Ukraine. The exact route has not been disclosed, raising concerns among some observers about the potential for forced deportation, as fears of forced deportation have been voiced by human rights groups.
The White House said US first lady Melania Trump helped negotiate the ceasefire and coordinate the humanitarian mission, adding a diplomatic dimension to the effort. However, the broader conflict shows no sign of abating. Russia's Defence Ministry claimed to have intercepted more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine reported Russian strikes involving ballistic missiles, other missiles, and dozens of drones.
Fighting continued in other parts of the country, including a deadly drone strike on a railway station in Dnipro that killed at least 13 people. The local truce in Oleshky, while significant, is unlikely to lead to a broader ceasefire, as warned by a former Ukrainian prime minister.
The evacuation from Oleshky is a stark reminder of the human cost of the war, as residents of a city that has been under Russian occupation since early in the conflict finally have a chance to leave. For those who remain, the promise of humanitarian support offers a glimmer of hope, but the future of the region remains uncertain.
As the ceasefire holds, international attention turns to the logistics of the evacuation and the safety of those who choose to stay. The operation, while limited in scope, demonstrates that even in the midst of war, moments of cooperation are possible—though the path to a lasting peace remains long and fraught with difficulty.
