25 buses arrive in Oleshky as evacuations begin under truce
Ukrainian officials report that residents are leaving the occupied city via a route through Russia and Belarus, while fighting continues elsewhere in the region.
By Ethan Cook ·
A convoy of 25 buses and several ambulances entered Oleshky on Friday to transport people out of the Russian-occupied city. The arrival marked the start of a humanitarian operation on the fourth day of a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine's southern Kherson region. Davyd Arakhamia, a lawmaker from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s party, stated that evacuees would travel by bus to Anapa in southern Russia. From there, they will fly to Belarus and cross the border into northern Ukraine.
Local authorities and volunteers estimate that approximately 2,000 people remain in Oleshky. The localized truce is scheduled to hold until Sunday evening. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, confirmed via an online post that the operation was underway. He noted that he was not part of the delegation present in the city.
The mission involved coordination between Russian and Ukrainian officials. The United States played a central role in the arrangement, with the White House noting that first lady Melania Trump helped broker the ceasefire. Pope Leo XIV also urged both leaders to permit aid deliveries and civilian departures. Both governments issued identical statements promising safe passage for those wishing to leave and support for those who stay.
Video shared by Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s ombudsman and chief negotiator, showed him interacting with older residents in Oleshky. One woman hugged him while others smiled. Lubinets said the humanitarian convoy assembled in Armiansk, a town in Russian-occupied Crimea located about 85 kilometers south of the city. Officials completed the demining of designated routes late Thursday, though two people were killed during the work.
Ksenia Arkhipova, a volunteer who previously lived in Oleshky, reported that large numbers of Russian military personnel are in the city. She told The Associated Press that soldiers are checking empty houses and moving into some of them. She also said they are pressuring locals to evacuate to Russia rather than Ukraine. Arkhipova noted that about 1,000 residents had told her they wanted to leave. She added that the presence of the Ukrainian delegation was important because many feared interrogation or detention by Russian authorities.
Fighting persisted outside the truce zone. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed air defenses downed more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones overnight. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched ballistic and other missiles, along with scores of drones. The evacuation route was not fully disclosed, though Ukrainian public television reported that evacuees would travel hundreds of kilometers through Russia and Belarus. Ukrainian-held territory lies just a few kilometers across the Dnipro River from Oleshky.
A small number of media organizations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have been invited to cover the operation. The ceasefire provides a brief pause in a long conflict, but the specific logistics of the transfer remain a focus for both sides. The next steps depend on the maintenance of the truce through the weekend.
The operation continues with the goal of moving civilians to safer zones. The buses and ambulances remain in the city to facilitate the departure of those who choose to leave. The truce is expected to end on Sunday evening, after which normal conditions may resume.
