Ukrainians trapped in a Russia-held city get chance to flee war during local ceasefire

Since October 27, Oleshky, a town in Ukraine's Kherson region occupied by Russia since 2022 and severely affected by flooding caused by the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka dam, has been under a localized ceasefire brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. On October 31, hundreds of civilians from Oleshky were transported to Belarus via bus convoys and are expected to return to Ukraine soon. The evacuation mission includes 25 buses, ambulances, and other vehicles, with the aim of bringing humanitarian aid to local residents who have faced regular shelling and severe shortages of food and medicine. While the truce has been observed by both sides so far, its broader implications for the ongoing conflict remain uncertain.