Evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky left by bus convoys Friday, during a localized truce expected to continue through Sunday evening.
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Evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky began leaving the war-ravaged city in bus convoys Friday, the fourth day of what was described as the most significant truce since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine 4 1/2 years ago.
U.S.- and Russia-Ukraine-localized arrangements were part of the effort, with an aid convoy of 25 buses along with some ambulances, trucks and other vehicles arriving earlier Friday to deliver food and medicine.
Officials in Oleshky offered residents an option to travel to either Ukrainian-held or Russian-held territory, or remain in the city with replenished food and medical supplies.
Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia said residents travelling to Ukraine were bused to Anapa in southern Russia, then would fly to Belarus before crossing into northern Ukraine.
The shortest route from Oleshky to Anapa was described as about 450 kilometres (280 miles) through Russian-held Crimea.
Russia’s ombudswoman and lead representative for the mission, Yana Lantratova, said buses were also carrying residents who wanted to live in Russia.
Lantratova said the humanitarian mission was wrapping up and was conducted without incident.
The number of people who left was not specified by either Russia or Ukraine, but U.S. first lady Melania Trump—whose role in brokering a localized truce was cited by the White House—posted that the convoy could safely evacuate more than 750 people.
The localized ceasefire in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region was described as expected to continue through Sunday evening, though fighting continued elsewhere.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defences downed more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched ballistic and other missiles along with scores of drones.
Ukraine’s emergency services said a Russian drone attack on the town of Shostka in the Sumy region left one woman dead and eight people injured, with rescue efforts hampered by repeated air raid alerts.
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