On Oct. 31, 2026, residents of the Russian‑occupied town of Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian territory after a six‑day ceasefire that was negotiated by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV.
The pause, the longest local truce since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022, allowed thousands to leave a place where supply lines had been cut for months and food was scarce.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States and the first lady for mediating, writing on X that all evacuees would receive the assistance they need and calling for further progress toward peace.
Evacuees, wrapped in blue and yellow Ukrainian flags, stepped off buses at the border with Belarus. Ukrainian officials greeted them with posters that read You’re not alone and We embrace with our hearts, while residents of nearby villages waved flags and flashlights.
Many evacuees had been forced to eat grass and scavenged squash to survive. “We chopped grass and squash… just to hold on,” Svitlana Yermakova told Reuters, adding that she had cycled over minefields to reach a village for food and a dog.
To reach safety, villagers first crossed Crimea by bus to Anapa, then flew to Belarus, and finally entered Ukraine. Ambulances lined streets and large military tents were set up where hot meals, tea and medical aid were offered.
Russian and Ukrainian officials said the ceasefire had held since Tuesday, letting mine‑clearing teams return roads and bring food, medicine, and supplies back into the town.
Some families chose to stay behind, citing ongoing shortages, while others joined the evacuation to seek aid in Ukrainian‑held areas.
The event underscores how mediation by foreign leaders can create critical human‑itarian pauses, providing relief to civilians caught in war zones.
