Hundreds of civilians left the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky on Friday under a localized ceasefire that first lady Melania Trump helped broker, according to Russian and Ukrainian officials quoted by the BBC and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Russia’s human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova, said the operation “unfolded without any incidents” and that “both sides noted the high level of organisation,” the BBC reported. Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said in a statement cited by RFE/RL that residents who wanted to leave for Ukraine “have been able to do so and are now on their way” and that humanitarian aid had been delivered.
OUR PRIORITY: SAVING LIVES
The convoy is prepared to safely evacuate over 750 people who voluntarily choose to leave Oleshky. It includes 25 buses, 50 medical professionals, and ambulances.
All elements of the convoy, including the safe passageway in and out of Oleshky, was… https://t.co/tb2756jdRh— First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 30, 2026
The first lady described the mission in a post on X on Friday morning. “The convoy is prepared to safely evacuate over 750 people who voluntarily choose to leave Oleshky,” she wrote, adding that it included 25 buses, 50 medical professionals and ambulances. She said every element of the convoy, “including the safe passageway in and out of Oleshky,” was set up “through mutual agreement between Russian and Ukrainian leaders.”
A rare pause in a long war
Oleshky sits just across the Dnieper River from Ukrainian-held Kherson. NBC News reported that the convoy had room for up to 750 passengers, with nine ambulances and more than 50 medical professionals, citing Lantratova. The BBC described the truce as the longest and most widespread ceasefire since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
According to the BBC, residents had a four-hour window on Friday to leave, and several hundred people chose to stay despite the lack of gas, electricity and running water. The BBC reported that the ceasefire covers the entire frontline Kherson region and is due to remain in force until the end of Sunday, Nov. 1.
The route out is long. Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia said evacuees bound for Ukraine were heading with the Ukrainian delegation to the southern Russian city of Anapa, Meduza reported. From there, according to the BBC, they are to fly to Gomel in Belarus and then cross by road into Ukraine’s Chernihiv region. NBC News reported that some residents told Sky News they worried they might not be allowed to continue into Ukraine.
How the deal came together
The first lady’s office said she learned of the city’s situation at a United Nations gathering in September and used contacts built through her work reuniting Ukrainian children with their families to help arrange the truce, NBC News reported. NBC also reported that Pope Leo XIV was involved. Lantratova, according to the BBC, joined her Ukrainian counterpart in asking that missions like this one be carried out regularly “under the coordination of Mrs Melania Trump.”
Arakhamia called the Oleshky truce “the biggest de-escalation since 2022,” according to Meduza. RFE/RL reported that neither side has reported a violation since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 27.
Sources
Sources cited
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c60me298k1yeo
- https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-oleshky-evacuation-melania-trump/33887157.html
- https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/melania-ukraine-oleshky-evacuation-russia-ceasefire-leo-rcna606509
- https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/30/russia-s-human-rights-commissioner-says-humanitarian-mission-in-occupied-oleshkyis-wrapping-up
- https://x.com/FLOTUS/status/2116191180174086427
Sources
- Original post: First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) on X, Oct 30, 2026
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