Ukraine Moves 167 Residents From Kherson As Oleshky Truce Nears End

Ukrainian military forces completed a final evacuation of 167 civilians from threatened sectors of the Kherson region on Sunday. This action occurred as the temporary local ceasefire in Oleshky approached its scheduled expiration at midnight Moscow time. The pause in hostilities marks the longest local suspension of fighting since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the evacuation via Telegram. The group of displaced residents included 22 children and 21 individuals with limited mobility who required special assistance. These civilians were moved to safer points within the region by civil-military cooperation units of the South group of forces working with local authorities.

The truce was established through mediation efforts led by US First Lady Melania Trump and involving Pope Leo. Both Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed that the ceasefire has held without violations since it began. This pause allowed for the de-mining of roads and the delivery of food, medicine, and other supplies into the town.

Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin urged residents to remain vigilant as the deadline approached. He warned against visiting areas near the Dnipro River, which he described as red zones. Prokudin stated that the intensity of Russian strikes in these settlements remains high, creating an extreme threat to life.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed a positive view of the operation's execution. He also noted effective coordination between the human rights commissioners of both nations. Pope Leo stated his hope that this cooperation would pave the way for wider peace efforts. Melania Trump wrote on X that the ceasefire granted residents freedom of movement and access to essential supplies, restoring a sense of dignity.

On Saturday, exhausted residents of Oleshky crossed into Ukraine after a complex journey. They traveled by bus to Crimea, then to the Russian town of Anapa, before flying to Belarus and continuing to Ukraine. Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said 25 buses and nine ambulances were used to transport those wishing to leave. It remained unclear how many residents chose to stay in the Russian-held town.

Military operations continued elsewhere in Ukraine on Sunday. Regional governors and emergency services reported one death in a strike in the Sumy region on the Russian border. At least one person was killed in a strike in the central Vinnytsia region.