Humanitarian aid reaches devastated Oleshky as ceasefire enables evacuations

Humanitarian aid reached the devastated Ukrainian city of Oleshky on Friday, offering relief to residents who have endured months of shortages amid Russia's occupation. The war has reduced the city's population from around 24,000 before the invasion to just 2,000, according to local authorities and volunteers. A convoy of 25 buses, ambulances and aid vehicles was expected to deliver food and medicines while evacuating residents wishing to leave, either towards Russian-controlled territory or Ukrainian-held areas. The operation is taking place under a ceasefire observed by both sides, marking the most significant pause in fighting in the war's four-and-a-half-year history. A joint mission, brokered with US help, saw Russian and Ukrainian officials work together in a rare humanitarian effort. The White House said the mission was brokered by First Lady Melania Trump, and Pope Leo XIV also urged the two leaders to help the city. Fighting continued elsewhere, with Russian air defences shooting down over 1,000 Ukrainian drones overnight and attacks on Dnipro and Chernigiv causing casualties and power outages.