Hundreds evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky under rare local ceasefire

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky following a rare humanitarian ceasefire, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV. The operation marks a significant, localized pause in the conflict. The evacuation involved a convoy of 25 buses, moving up to 750 people to Russian territory, with some continuing to Ukraine via Belarus. Russian and Ukrainian ombudsmen jointly oversaw the operation, which also allowed for demining of evacuation routes. The ceasefire, effective since October 27, is the longest in the Kherson region since the 2022 invasion. The ceasefire is set to last until November 1, but the Kremlin has ruled out extending it nationwide. While some residents chose to stay despite the lack of utilities, many Ukrainians suspect Russia's motives are to gain favor with the White House ahead of the US midterm elections.