Civilians in Ukraine’s Kherson region began leaving threatened areas on Sunday as a six-day local ceasefire in Oleshky neared its end. The military reported evacuating 167 people from southern Kherson, two days after residents were removed from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky. The ceasefire, brokered through mediation efforts involving US First Lady Melania Trump and with the involvement of Pope Leo, was set to expire at midnight Moscow time.
The agreement allowed for a rare humanitarian pause, enabling the evacuation of civilians from Oleshky. Despite the ceasefire, both Moscow and Kyiv continued strikes in other areas, with no reported violations in Kherson during the truce. The situation has raised concerns as the region prepares for the resumption of hostilities.
The Oleshky ceasefire marked one of the most significant pauses in fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly five years ago. Pope Leo expressed hope that the cooperation seen in Oleshky could encourage broader peace efforts between Ukraine and Russia. However, the end of the ceasefire has prompted residents to brace for renewed conflict.
The truce followed a period of intense diplomatic engagement, highlighting the potential for localized peace efforts amid ongoing war. As the ceasefire concludes, the focus shifts to the future of hostilities in the region.
