Evacuated residents leave Russian-occupied Olesjky after ceasefire

Evacuated residents from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Olesjky have now left the city, following a local ceasefire brokered with help from US First Lady Melania Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj announced Saturday. The humanitarian operation involved transporting civilians by bus through Russian-controlled territory to Anapa, Russia, with an overnight stop in Simferopol, Crimea, before flying them to Homel, Belarus, and onward into Ukraine. Relatives waited at the Ukraine-Belarus border, where aid tents, coffee stands, and pet food were set up, with volunteers from organizations like the Red Cross and World Central Kitchen assisting. Ukrainian authorities have not disclosed the number of evacuees to protect those remaining in Olesjky, where hunger has been reported among residents, including around 50 children. Of the original population of 24,000, about 1,700 remain, with over 200 accepting evacuation to other parts of Ukraine and a few dozen choosing to go to Russia. Analysts warn Russia may use the ceasefire, which lasts until Sunday evening, to build up forces in the Kherson region.