Hundreds Evacuated from Oleshky Reunite with Families in Ukraine

Hundreds of people evacuated from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky reached Ukrainian-controlled territory on October 31 under a temporary ceasefire. Some were reunited with family members after nearly five years apart. The group included a 94-year-old, a child just over one year old and several pets, Ukrainian officials said; those who stayed behind received emergency supplies.

The truce was called for by Pope Leo XIV and helped broker by US first lady Melania Trump. A two-day mine-clearing operation opened a route for the evacuation. The evacuees traveled through Crimea to Russia’s Krasnodar region, flew from Anapa to Belarus, then continued by bus to Ukraine’s Chernihiv region.

Oleshky had a prewar population of about 24,000. Ukrainian authorities said that by September the town had run short of food, electricity, medicine and other essentials. Residents described struggling to find food and moving through streets where drones posed a danger. Larisa, 54, said the occupation left her weighing a third less before she reunited with her husband, Dmytro.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Trump and others who drew attention to conditions in the town. Melania Trump said the evacuation showed humanity could be raised above war. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, traveled to Oleshky to accompany the evacuees, in what Ukrainian officials described as the first visit to Russian-occupied territory by a senior Ukrainian official since the war began.

Zelensky also said that Washington, Kyiv and Moscow were planning three-way talks for early to mid-November, with Turkey a possible venue. He cited the evacuation as evidence that de-escalation was possible when Russia was pressed to act.

Oleshky Evacuation Shows the Human Cost of Russian Occupation

The evacuation from Oleshky brought hundreds of Ukrainians to safety on October 31, but it also underscored the humanitarian toll of Russia’s occupation. Ukrainian authorities said the town had been left without food, power, medicine or other necessities by September. Residents described surviving on dwindling food supplies while drones made it dangerous to move around.

The temporary ceasefire, called for by Pope Leo XIV and helped broker by Melania Trump, enabled mine-clearing and the deployment of buses. About 750 people made the journey through Crimea and Russia to Belarus before reaching Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. Some families reunited after nearly five years apart; evacuees included a 94-year-old, a child just over one and several pets.

Larisa, 54, said the occupation had reduced her weight by a third. Her reunion with her husband, Dmytro, was among the emotional scenes as the group arrived. The desperate conditions that made escape necessary remain central to the story: a temporary humanitarian operation cannot undo years of deprivation or the danger facing people in occupied territory.

Zelensky thanked Trump and others who helped draw attention to Oleshky. The operation was a welcome rescue, not a substitute for ending the occupation and securing lasting peace. According to Zelensky, Washington, Kyiv and Moscow were planning three-way talks for early to mid-November, with Turkey a possible venue.

Melania Trump-Backed Ceasefire Brings Hundreds Home from Oleshky

A practical diplomatic effort brought hundreds of people out of Oleshky and back to Ukrainian-controlled territory on October 31. The temporary ceasefire was called for by Pope Leo XIV and helped broker by first lady Melania Trump, whose role helped make the evacuation possible.

After a two-day mine-clearing operation, about 750 people traveled through Crimea and Russia to Belarus, then continued by bus to Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. Families reunited after nearly five years apart. The evacuees included a 94-year-old, a child just over one year old and several pets; emergency supplies were provided to those who remained.

The operation offered a rare result in a war marked by separation and danger. Oleshky’s residents had faced shortages of food, electricity, medicine and other essentials, and people described the threat from drones. Larisa, 54, said her body weight had fallen by one-third before reuniting with her husband, Dmytro.

Zelensky thanked Trump and others who helped focus attention on the town, while Melania Trump said the effort showed humanity could rise above war. The evacuation demonstrates the value of focused diplomacy and pressure that produces concrete relief. Zelensky said that Washington, Kyiv and Moscow were planning three-way talks for early to mid-November, with Turkey a possible location.