Hundreds leave Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky during US-backed ceasefire

Summary

Hundreds of starving and exhausted residents left the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky on Friday during a US-backed local ceasefire. Channel NewsAsia described it as the first ceasefire of its kind and the longest humanitarian pause in the war, which is nearing its fifth year. The Straits Times reported that the six-day ceasefire followed mediation by US First Lady Melania Trump and help from the pope, and that Ukrainian officials have said around 1,700 people remained in Oleshky. The BBC reported that the ceasefire was brokered by Melania Trump, that many residents left on Friday, and that some evacuees have been reunited with family after years trapped in the city. Al Jazeera reported that four planes carrying evacuees arrived in Belarus's Gomel on Saturday, en route to Ukraine.

Timeline

1. The Straits Times

   31 Oct 2026, 09:46 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that the six-day ceasefire followed mediation by US First Lady Melania Trump and help from the pope, and that Ukrainian officials have said around 1,700 people remained in Oleshky.

2. Channel NewsAsia

   31 Oct 2026, 09:59 UTCSource ↗

   Channel NewsAsia reports that hundreds of starving and exhausted residents left Oleshky on Friday during a US-backed local ceasefire, which it describes as the first of its kind and the longest humanitarian pause in the war.

3. Al Jazeera

   31 Oct 2026, 10:53 UTCSource ↗

   Al Jazeera reports that four planes carrying evacuees from the war-ravaged city of Oleshky arrived in Belarus's Gomel on Saturday, en route to Ukraine.

4. BBC

   31 Oct 2026, 15:50 UTCSource ↗

   The BBC reports that many residents left Oleshky on Friday following a ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, and that some evacuees have reunited with family after years trapped in the Russia-occupied city.