In brief
Ukraine's General Staff announced the evacuation of 167 civilians from the southern Kherson region after a six‑day ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered with assistance from Melania Trump and Pope Leo, approached midnight Moscow time. The evacuees included 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility, and Ukraine urged residents to stay away from “red zones” near the Dnipro while Russian forces remain active. Russian officials praised the coordination, while the pope expressed hope the cooperation would lead to broader peace.
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, Ukraine’s military evacuated 167 civilians from parts of the Kherson region as the local ceasefire in Oleshky was about to expire at midnight Moscow time.
Units of civil‑military cooperation of the “South” group of forces, acting together with local authorities, transferred the evacuees to safer points in the Kherson region. The group carried 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility who needed special assistance.
Melania Trump, who helped broker the ceasefire, posted on X that the agreement had “provided residents with the freedom to move, access to food, clean water, medicine, plus a renewed sense of dignity without the constant threat of attack.”
“It has given us a chance to live without the attacking raids on our everyday life,” Trump wrote.
The Pope, speaking on the pause, said he hoped that the collaboration between Russia and Ukraine in enforcing the Oleshky ceasefire would pave the way for broader peace efforts.
In his statement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia welcomed the evacuation and praised the coordination between the two sides’ human‑rights commissioners.
Kherson governor Oleksandr Prokudin warned residents to be vigilant as the ceasefire ended, telling people to avoid “red zones” near the Dnipro where Russian strikes continue to be intense.
The six‑day ceasefire, negotiated with mediation by Trump and Pope Leo, had held without violations, allowing de‑mining of roads and delivery of food, medicine and other supplies into Oleshky. Ukrainian troops had retaken most of the region, including the city of Kherson, but Russian forces still controlled Oleshky after the February 2022 invasion.
During the evacuation, residents of Oleshky had first travelled by bus to Crimea, then by flight to Belarus before reaching Ukraine. The evacuation highlighted the ongoing risk to civilians in the front‑line areas and the importance of ceasefire agreements for humanitarian relief.
