Oleshky evacuees reunite with families after truce allows crossing back into Ukraine

Key Points:

• Evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky were reunited with families after crossing into Ukrainian-held territory during a major rescue operation under a rare ceasefire in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.
• The truce, brokered with help from Melania Trump and supported by the Pope, allowed around 750 people to be safely evacuated, with aid organizations providing food and medical assistance at the border.
• Despite the evacuation, about 2,000 residents remained in Oleshky, with some choosing to stay due to attachment to their homes or animals, while others evacuated to either Ukrainian- or Russian-held areas.
• Ukrainian authorities have kept evacuation details confidential for security reasons, and both Ukrainian and Russian human rights officials expressed hopes for continued humanitarian missions in the region.
• Meanwhile, ongoing conflict included Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia’s Bryansk and Bashkortostan regions, causing casualties and infrastructure damage, while Russian forces reported shooting down hundreds of Ukrainian drones overnight.