It was the longest local pause in fighting since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. There is no sign of an extension
KHERSON, Ukraine – A six-day local ceasefire around the Russian-held town of Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region ended Sunday night, with no violations reported by either side and no sign of an extension. It was the longest local pause in fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The truce was reached after mediation by US first lady Melania Trump and with the involvement of Pope Leo XIV. About 2,000 civilians were in Oleshky when it took hold. Residents who wanted to leave, some for Russia and some for Ukraine, were taken first to Crimea in 25 buses and nine ambulances, Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova said. Those going to Ukraine traveled through the Russian town of Anapa and flew to Belarus before continuing, Reuters reported. The oldest evacuee was 94 and the youngest was 1, said Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets. It is not known how many people chose to stay.
As the truce neared its end, Ukraine’s military said it evacuated 167 civilians from threatened areas of the Kherson region on Sunday. Governor Oleksandr Prokudin urged residents to be vigilant. The ceasefire expired at midnight Moscow time. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia viewed the operation positively. The pope said he hoped the cooperation would pave the way for broader peace efforts.
The pause was limited to the area around Oleshky. Fighting continued elsewhere, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia struck energy infrastructure in four regions overnight Saturday, leaving hundreds of thousands of homes without power. Oleshky lies on the Dnipro River opposite Kherson city, which Ukraine still controls and which residents say they expect to come under heavier fire.
This report draws on information from Reuters, Al Jazeera and the BBC.