Susanna Riva Last Saturday, a crowd of starving and conflict-weary residents crossed the border between the Russian town of Oleshky and Ukraine, marking the first return of civilians under a local humanitarian ceasefire in more than four years of war.
The interim six-day agreement, signed through intense mediation by US First Lady Melania Trump and with the support of the Holy Father, represents the longest pause in the region since the launch of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
The evacuation route: from Oleshky to Chernihiv
To reach the territory controlled by Kiev, the residents of Oleshky had to navigate a complex route. First, they were all put on buses bound for Crimea, from where they were transferred to the Russian city of Anapa. From there, a flight took the passengers to Belarus; finally, new buses took them to the Chernihiv region, in the far north of Ukraine.
The footage shows a plane landing on a Belarusian runway, with elderly people and children slowly disembarking. Some required assistance walking, others were transported on stretchers or in wheelchairs. Luggage was minimal, usually limited to one or two bags, while pets traveled in cages.
Welcome at the border
Upon arrival in the Chernihiv region, the families were greeted by signs with slogans such as “ You're not alone ” and “ We embrace with our hearts .”
The streets were lined with ambulances and large military tents serving hot meals, tea, and medical care. Pet food and bottled water were placed on tables, a testament to the care given to all family members, both human and four-legged.
Leaders' statements and the diplomatic context
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States and Melania Trump for facilitating the mediation, stressing that all Ukrainian citizens from Oleshky would receive the necessary assistance. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, said: "We negotiated, secured a ceasefire, provided direct humanitarian aid to Oleshky, and organized the evacuation of civilians ."
According to Russian authorities, the ceasefire has been observed without any violations since Tuesday, allowing the removal of road mines and the entry of food, medicine, and other essential goods. Supplies had been cut off in May, leaving the population in a state of increasing hunger.
Testimonies from the field
An elderly woman, having just gotten off the bus, called the escape " an escape from hell ," while a young woman embraced a woman carrying the Ukrainian national flag. Both wept with joy. Lubinets reported that the oldest person among the refugees was 94, while the youngest was just over a year old.
Oleshky's future and the dynamics of the front
Before the war, Oleshky had a population of approximately 24.000; at the time of the evacuation, approximately 1.700 people remained in the occupied town. The town has been under Russian control since and has suffered severe damage, especially after the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, which caused widespread flooding.
The ceasefire is expected to last until Sunday, after which evacuation operations may be halted. Some residents have chosen to head towards Russia, while others have decided to stay in Oleshky despite the lack of gas, electricity, and running water.
Meanwhile, hostilities continue elsewhere along the front. Both sides are continuing drone strikes and targeting energy infrastructure: Russia has targeted Ukrainian substations, thermal power plants, and gas facilities, while the Ukrainian military has struck a major rocket fuel production facility in the Rostov region.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Ukrainian and Russian ombudsmen had initiated a constructive dialogue, but added that the Oleshky incident remained an isolated case and could not be considered indicative of a broader peace process.
Diplomatic prospects
Talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States are scheduled to resume in Abu Dhabi in early November, after being suspended in February following tensions in Iran.
Meanwhile, the arrival of the convoy of 25 buses, ambulances, and other relief units represents the first concrete attempt to provide direct humanitarian assistance to Oleshky, opening the possibility of further joint initiatives between the warring parties.