Ukraine’s military said it moved 167 civilians from threatened parts of the southern Kherson region to safer locations on Nov. 1, as a temporary ceasefire around Russian-held Oleshky approached its scheduled end. Reuters, in a report published by The Straits Times, said the evacuees included 22 children and 21 people needing mobility assistance.
The six-day agreement followed mediation efforts by U.S. first lady Melania Trump, with Pope Leo also involved. It was due to expire at 4 p.m. New York time on Nov. 1. Ukrainian and Russian officials said the pause had held without violations since Tuesday, allowing roads to be cleared of mines and supplies to reach the town.
Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin urged residents to remain alert and avoid areas near the Dnipro River, warning that Russian strikes continued to pose a severe threat there.
Some residents leaving Oleshky for Ukrainian-controlled territory took a lengthy route through Russian-annexed Crimea, then Russia and Belarus. Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said those departing were initially transported to Crimea in 25 buses and nine ambulances before separating into groups bound for Russia or Ukraine. The number remaining in Oleshky was unknown.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the evacuation operation and coordination between the countries’ human rights commissioners. Pope Leo expressed hope that cooperation over Oleshky could support wider peace efforts.
The local pause did not extend across Ukraine. Regional authorities and emergency services reported one death in a strike in Sumy region and at least one in Vinnytsia region on Nov. 1.