Ukrainian Evacuees Reunite With Family After Years Trapped in Russia-Occupied City

 Image via [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx2818elrnzo). Ukrainian evacuees from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky have reunited with family members after a six-day humanitarian ceasefire facilitated by US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV. Residents had to travel through Russian-occupied territory to southern Russia, then fly to Belarus before crossing into Ukraine's Chernihiv region. The journey was perilous, as supply routes to Oleshky had been disrupted by fighting and drones, with food deliveries halted in May, pushing hundreds into starvation. The ceasefire allowed the road out of the city to be cleared of mines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked US First Lady Melania Trump for her role in brokering the ceasefire that paved the way for their evacuation. He emphasized that all evacuees would receive necessary assistance, highlighting the importance of effective government coordination to help them adapt to life after years of isolation. Some people chose to stay behind despite the lack of gas, electricity, and running water, with Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova pledging continued cooperation with Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Lubinets to provide humanitarian aid. The evacuation marked the first major humanitarian truce in more than four years of Russia’s war on Ukraine. While the ceasefire has held since Tuesday, fighting continues elsewhere along the front lines, with both sides engaging in drone attacks. According to the BBC, bridges across the nearby River Dnipro have been destroyed, and the riverbank has been mined, making it a hazardous area for those attempting to flee. Sources: [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx2818elrnzo) · [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/1/ukrainian-evacuees-from-russian-occupied-oleshky-reunite-with-family)