Hundreds Evacuated From Oleshky Arrive in Ukraine Under Cease-Fire Brokered by Melania Trump

Hundreds of Ukrainians evacuated from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky arrived in safe Ukrainian territory on Saturday, following a temporary cease-fire brokered with the help of First Lady Melania Trump. The arrivals led to emotional scenes, with some families reunited after nearly five years apart.

Russian troops seized Oleshky, located in the southern Kherson region, at the start of the invasion in 2022, separating many families. By September, the town was reportedly depleted of essential supplies such as food, electricity, and medicine, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Evacuees described harrowing experiences. "It was like I’d escaped from hell," said Oleksandr, one of the evacuees. He recounted living in apartments and consuming only canned goods and pickles due to the lack of accessible food. Another resident, Ivan Yevhenovych, 48, described a difficult environment with frequent drone activity and a lack of staple foods since spring. He also noted the daily threat of landmines and drone strikes in Oleshky, a town that had a pre-war population of 24,000.

The humanitarian operation, which began Tuesday and was set to conclude Sunday evening, involved clearing roads of mines, delivering aid, and deploying buses to evacuate an estimated 750 people. Melania Trump commented on the operation via social media, stating, "Oleshky proves we can raise humanity above war. Together, we can build a peaceful planet, a world of promise for our children."

Following their evacuation, the residents traveled through Crimea, then to Belarus, before being bused to Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. There, they were welcomed with traditional Ukrainian food.

Larisa, a 54-year-old evacuee who reported losing a third of her body weight during the occupation, expressed her hope for peace and victory. She was reunited with her husband, Dmytro, on Saturday. "We’re waiting for all this to end, for peace to come, and for victory," she said, adding, "It’s hard for everyone in the country."

The group of evacuees included individuals ranging from 94 years old to a one-year-old, and several pets were also rescued.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the efforts, thanking the United States and the First Lady. "I thank everyone around the world – every journalist, every political and civic leader, and every concerned person – who helped draw global attention to the situation in Oleshky and the true humanitarian catastrophe in Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by Russia," Zelenskyy wrote on X. He emphasized that global attention leads to rescue operations.

Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, was among the first senior officials to enter Russian-occupied territory since the war began, accompanying the evacuees. He stated on X, "We want the experience of Oleshky to be more than an isolated case. The ordeal and uncertainty are behind them. What lies ahead is the chance to recover and finally breathe a sigh of relief after living in constant fear for their lives."

President Zelenskyy also mentioned that the United States, Ukraine, and Russia are preparing for a trilateral meeting in early November, with Turkey suggested as a possible venue. He reiterated the need to signal to Russia that peace is the only option and that support for Ukraine remains strong, noting the Oleshky operation as an example of possible de-escalation when Russia's actions are challenged.