Starving and exhausted residents of Russian-occupied Oleshky in southern Ukraine were being evacuated on Friday, October 30, in a relief effort involving both sides. It was the first operation of its kind in four years and eight months of war.

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A local truce is underway as residents depart Russian-occupied Oleshky. In the White House's account, Melania Trump, the US first lady, played a part in securing the pause and coordinating relief work.

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Russian and Ukrainian officials entered the devastated city of Oleshky on a humanitarian mission after a rare ceasefire.

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A humanitarian aid convoy carrying Russian and Ukrainian officials entered the besieged Ukrainian city of Oleshky after Melania Trump brokered a localized ceasefire.

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Evacuations have started in Oleshky, which is under Russian control, under a ceasefire brokered by the United States.

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Starving residents of a Russian-held town in southern Ukraine began evacuating Friday as part of a joint relief effort by opposing sides, the first operation of its kind in more than four years of war.

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After years of Russian occupation, Oleshky’s civilians have a rare opportunity to receive humanitarian aid or leave town. Serious doubts remain over whether evacuees will be able to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory.

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An evacuation operation is underway in a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city during a localized truce brokered by first lady Melania Trump, with Pope Leo XIV also involved.

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A humanitarian mission led by Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova has reached Oleshky in the occupied Kherson region. Russian and Ukrainian representatives said civilian evacuations began on October 30 and aid was being distributed. Journalists entered with the delegations as the sides paused fire for several days.

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An aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies has entered Russian-held Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region. Evacuations are under way during a six-day US-brokered local ceasefire, now in its third day, with 25 buses standing by.

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Ukraine’s prime minister said on Friday that authorities were still determining how many residents plan to evacuate from the Russian-occupied southern town of Oleshky to Ukrainian-held territory.

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Evacuations are under way from Russian-occupied Oleshky after a ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump took effect in the Kherson frontline region on Tuesday, allowing the road to be cleared of mines. A convoy of 25 buses can carry up to 750 people during a four-hour window. Several hundred residents are understood to be staying despite shortages of gas, electricity and running water.

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Officials from Russia and Ukraine say evacuations and humanitarian aid distribution have started in occupied Oleshky, in the Kherson region. Ukraine says 527 residents want to relocate to Ukraine; Russia has not provided a figure for those seeking to relocate to Russia. The countries halted hostilities for the humanitarian mission under a truce that began on October 27 and is due to last until late on November 1.

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Officials from Russia and Ukraine entered the devastated city of Oleshky after a rare ceasefire.

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Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said the humanitarian mission in Alyoshki, in the Kherson Region, was going more or less as planned. Russian forces established a ceasefire on the Kherson front on October 27 to enable the operation. Russia and Ukraine had earlier agreed to a ceasefire in Alyoshki for aid delivery and civilian evacuation through a designated safe corridor, with assistance from US First Lady Melania Trump.

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Ukraine's human rights ombudsman said buses and ambulances were ready to evacuate residents from Russian-occupied Oleshky during a ceasefire. An evacuation volunteer accused Russia of starting the process early, and TASS footage appeared to show civilians being moved before the agreed Oct. 30 departure date.

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Evacuation of stranded residents from Oleshky began Friday under a US-brokered ceasefire, officials from Russia and Ukraine said. Ukraine said 527 people would be taken to areas under Kyiv’s control, while Russia said an unspecified number would go to Russia. Humanitarian aid distribution also began.

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The first humanitarian operation in years in Russian-occupied Oleshky offers civilians trapped by war a fragile glimmer of hope. It also raises serious concerns about Moscow’s intentions and the fate of people seeking evacuation to Ukrainian-controlled territory.

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Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets and Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova have traveled to occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region with humanitarian aid and plan to arrange the evacuation of residents who wish to leave. Russia and Ukraine agreed to pause fighting there from October 27 through November 1; Melania Trump reportedly helped broker the deal.

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