Starved and exhausted residents of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky have crossed into Ukraine in a major evacuation operation of civilians, under the first humanitarian truce of its kind in more than four years of Moscow’s war. The six-day ceasefire covering the town was reached with mediation efforts by US First Lady Melania Trump and help from Pope Leo XIV. It is the longest local pause in fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour in 2022.

Ukrainian citizens from Oleshky have crossed the Ukrainian border in the Chernihiv region. All of them will receive the assistance they need,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X, thanking the United States and the first lady for mediating. “Further steps toward de-escalation and real progress toward peace are also needed,” he added.

A humanitarian operation to rescue people in Oleshky, in the Kherson region, has taken place. A ceasefire was established in the Kherson sector, during which roads to Oleshky were cleared of mines and humanitarian aid was delivered. Evacuees wrapped in blue and yellow Ukrainian flags stepped off buses at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border and reunited with family members. Ukrainian officials met the evacuees with posters reading “You’re not alone” and “We embrace with our hearts”, while residents from nearby villages lined the highway waving flags and flashlights to greet them.

The successful evacuation marks a significant humanitarian achievement amidst the ongoing conflict, offering a moment of relief for those who endured months of isolation and hardship. The truce, brokered internationally, highlights the potential for diplomatic channels to facilitate civilian safety, even in heavily contested areas.

Supply routes to Oleshky had been disrupted by fighting and drones. According to some residents, food deliveries were stopped in May, pushing hundreds of people into starvation. One evacuee, an elderly man in a wheelchair, told the Reuters news agency that he had lost 20kg (44lbs) over the past year, becoming so weak he required hospital treatment. Another evacuee, Svitlana Yermakova, told Reuters they had to eat grass to survive.

“We chopped grass and squash… just to hold on,” she said, adding that she risked riding by bicycle through minefields to a nearby village to get food for herself and her dog. To reach Ukrainian-held territory, Oleshky residents had to take a convoy.

Details about the exact number of people evacuated and those who remain in Oleshky were not immediately available. The long-term implications for the town and its remaining residents, as well as the sustainability of such humanitarian truces, remain subjects of observation.

This operation is seen as a critical step in alleviating the suffering of civilians trapped in occupied territories and underscores the ongoing challenges faced by those living under Russian control.