Oleshky evacuees survived on grass and dogs, calling rescue a 'blessing'

Evacuees from Oleshky, a bombed-out city in Russian-occupied Ukraine, said residents survived by eating grass and dogs, calling their rescue after a humanitarian truce a "blessing." The truce, announced by US First Lady Melania Trump on 23 October, aimed to address the city's dire conditions. Ukrainian and Russian officials jointly visited Oleshky on Friday, delivering aid and evacuating residents in a rare cooperative effort. Evacuees arriving in Ukraine described brutal conditions, including bodies on roads and people forced to cook dogs, with one resident noting "there's no life there anymore." Oleshky, captured by Russia in 2022, had about 2,000 residents remaining, down from 24,000 before the invasion. Neither side has specified evacuation numbers, and many residents reportedly chose to stay despite the fighting.