Civilians evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky in Ukraine

An evacuation of civilians from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky took place on Friday, following months of severe conditions for residents. Many inhabitants, however, are choosing to stay despite the dangers. The evacuation used 25 buses for up to 750 people, with an estimated 1,500 civilians, mostly elderly, remaining in the city. Residents could choose to go to Ukrainian or Russian-controlled territory, though the route to Ukraine was complex, going through Russia and Belarus. Ukrainian officials reported the evacuation columns had split, with those wishing to go to Ukraine already en route. A ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia has held for over 75 hours, and Ukraine's human rights ombudsman thanked US First Lady Melania Trump for her role in coordinating the mission.