Kherson evacuation: 167 civilians moved as ceasefire timer runs out
Ukrainian forces pulled 22 children and 21 disabled residents from threatened areas of the Kherson region on Sunday, hours before a six-day local truce in Oleshky expired.
By Aisha Khan ·
Ukraine’s military evacuated 167 civilians from threatened zones in southern Kherson region on Sunday. The General Staff confirmed the group included 22 children and 21 individuals with limited mobility who required special assistance during the move.
The evacuation occurred as a six-day local ceasefire in the Oleshky area approached its expiration. The truce was set to end at midnight Moscow time, marking the longest local pause in fighting since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
The agreement was reached through mediation by US First Lady Melania Trump and the involvement of Pope Leo. Both Ukrainian and Russian officials stated the ceasefire held without violations from its start on Tuesday. This pause allowed both sides to clear mines from roads and deliver food, medicine, and other supplies to the town.
On Saturday, residents of Oleshky completed a complex journey to cross into Ukrainian territory. They traveled by bus through Crimea to the Russian town of Anapa. From there, they flew to Belarus before continuing their route to Ukraine. Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said 25 buses and nine ambulances initially transported those wishing to leave.
Kherson Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin warned residents to remain vigilant as the truce neared its end. He advised people to avoid the so-called red zones near the Dnipro River. Prokudin noted that the intensity of Russian strikes in those areas remains high, creating a severe threat to life.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia viewed the operation in Oleshky positively. He cited effective coordination between the two countries' human rights commissioners. Melania Trump wrote on X that the ceasefire gave residents freedom of movement, access to essentials, and a renewed sense of dignity without constant threat of attack.
Combat continued in other parts of Ukraine on Sunday. Regional governors and emergency services reported one death in a strike in the Sumy region near the Russian border. At least one person died in a separate strike in the central Vinnytsia region.
Source: KOYY
