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

Evacuees from Oleshky, a bombed-out city in Russian-occupied Ukraine, told AFP they survived by eating grass and dogs, calling their rescue during a humanitarian truce a "blessing." The truce, announced by US First Lady Melania Trump on October 23, enabled a rare joint aid and evacuation operation. Ukrainian and Russian officials visited the city together on Friday, delivering aid and evacuating residents. Evacuees arriving in Ukraine by bus described dire conditions, including cooking grass, shooting dogs for food, and encountering piles of bodies and blown-up vehicles. One resident, Yelyzaveta Paliy, tearfully reunited with her father, who said "there's no life there anymore." Around 2,000 residents remained in Oleshky, down from 24,000 before Russia's 2022 invasion, according to Kyiv. Neither side has specified evacuation numbers, and authorities previously indicated many residents wished to stay, even amid renewed fighting.