Ukraine Evacuates 167 Civilians from Kherson Region as Oleshky Ceasefire Nears End

Ukrainian military units evacuated 167 civilians from parts of the Kherson region on 1 November 2026 as a six-day local ceasefire in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky approached its scheduled end. The General Staff said the group included 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility who needed special help. They were taken to safer points inside Ukrainian-controlled territory.

The ceasefire covered Oleshky and surrounding areas from 28 October until midnight Moscow time on 1 November. It was the longest local pause in fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. US First Lady Melania Trump helped broker the arrangement, and Pope Leo also pressed for a truce. Both sides reported that the pause held without major violations, allowing demining of roads and delivery of food and medicine.

Residents of Oleshky who chose to leave traveled a long route. They left by bus through Crimea to the Russian town of Anapa, flew to Gomel in Belarus, then crossed into Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that citizens from Oleshky had reached Ukrainian territory and would receive assistance. He thanked Melania Trump and the United States for mediation. Families reunited at the border. One man, Mykhailo Palii, met his daughters and partner after years of separation. The oldest person evacuated was 94. The youngest was just over one year old.

Hundreds more had left Oleshky earlier in the week. A convoy of 25 buses and ambulances entered the town on 30 October. Some residents chose to stay despite the absence of gas, electricity, and running water. Local authorities estimated about 2000 people remained in the town before the operation. Russian officials said two people, including a demining specialist, were killed while clearing routes.

Kherson region governor Oleksandr Prokudin urged residents near the Dnipro river to avoid red zones as the ceasefire expiry neared. The pause had extended beyond Oleshky itself to parts of the wider region. Ukrainian forces continued limited evacuations from threatened areas on the final day. No large-scale fighting was reported during the window.

The operation is the first joint humanitarian effort of its kind in more than four years of war. Both Moscow and Kyiv have used it to show willingness to cooperate on limited practical matters while larger peace talks remain stalled. Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova said the mission concluded without incident. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets led the Ukrainian side and thanked Melania Trump.

Supply lines to Oleshky had been cut for months by fighting and drones. Residents described months of isolation with little food or medical care. The ceasefire allowed both sides to bring in aid and extract those who wanted to leave. Whether similar local arrangements can be repeated elsewhere remains open. The truce ended as scheduled on the night of 1 November.