An unusual rescue mission to help up to 2,000 civilians trapped in the frontline city of Oleshky, Ukraine, began Friday. Russian and Ukrainian officials traveled together to oversee assistance delivery and bus evacuations. Preparations had been ongoing since May, with Russia's human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova citing months of negotiations.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's parliamentary human rights commissioner, became the first Ukrainian official to visit Russia since the war began to monitor the operation. Oleshky, occupied since 2022, sits on the Dnipro river front line. Prior to the invasion, about 24,000 people lived there; most fled early on, leaving mostly older residents.
The plight of Oleshky gained international attention after Melania Trump announced a local truce last Friday and Pope Leo XIV called for a cease-fire with President Vladimir V. Putin this week. The city has become a widening "kill zone" due to intense drone warfare.
Russian soldiers and drone pilots use ruined buildings to strike Kherson across the river, while Ukrainian forces defend Kherson by targeting Oleshky. Most roads in and out are mined and targeted by drones, stopping trucks from delivering food and medicine. Residents have lost electricity, heat, and gas.
A cease-fire has been in place since Tuesday to facilitate the evacuation.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing