Melania Trump hails Oleshky evacuation as success, but civilians remain trapped and Russia reinforces positions
Nearly 800 people were evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky in southern Ukraine during a six-day ceasefire, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump said on November 2. However, some residents who wanted to leave remain in the occupied area, while Ukraine's military says Russian forces used the pause in fighting to reinforce their positions.
"The mission was a success, delivering critical aid to the region and enabling the evacuation of nearly 800 people," Melania Trump wrote on X.
She thanked both Ukraine and Russia for their cooperation and said she hoped the Oleshky ceasefire would serve as "a foundation for lasting peace between both nations."
The ceasefire began on October 27 and ended on November 1, as planned.
The humanitarian operation allowed residents of Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Kherson Oblast, to choose whether to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory or Russia. The exact number of people who returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory remains unclear.
On October 31, four aircraft carrying residents who had chosen to return to Ukraine arrived in Gomel, Belarus. The evacuees then continued by bus to Ukraine, crossing the border in Chernihiv Oblast later that day.
Not everyone could leave
Despite the evacuation, some residents who wanted to escape remain in Russian-occupied territory, a source familiar with the situation told hromadske.
Some bedridden residents were left behind, while others feared undergoing Russian filtration procedures. Residents of surrounding villages also struggled to reach evacuation points because roads remained mined.
Among those unable to leave was Alla Lykhman-Malysh, a volunteer previously featured in a hromadske report about life in Oleshky.
She cares for 70 animals - 30 cats and 40 dogs - and was recently injured by a mine while traveling along a dangerous road to obtain food for them.
According to information obtained by hromadske, she remains hospitalized and declined evacuation after being told she could not bring the animals with her.
Russia used ceasefire to reinforce positions, Ukraine says
Ukraine's General Staff said Russian troops used the humanitarian ceasefire to rotate personnel, strengthen defensive positions, expand anti-drone protection along roads and deliver ammunition and other supplies.
Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, complied with the ceasefire arrangements, the General Staff said.
Sky News also published drone footage showing Russian troops moving personnel and heavy equipment in the area.
Dmytro Pulynets, commander of Ukraine's 34th Marine Brigade, told Sky News that although evacuating civilians was essential, Russian military activity during the pause would create additional challenges for Ukrainian troops once fighting resumed.
Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said the ceasefire had ended and that efforts were underway to explore further humanitarian arrangements to help people still trapped in the area.
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