evacuations begin in ukrainian city under ceasefire brokered by melania trump

NBC News reported that a significant evacuation and humanitarian aid operation began in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in Ukraine, under a localized ceasefire brokered by first lady Melania Trump with involvement from Pope Leo XIV.

Ukrainian officials described the ceasefire as one of the most significant pauses in fighting since Russia's full-scale invasion over four and a half years ago.

Despite the truce in Oleshky, Russian missile strikes continued on other Ukrainian cities, dampening hopes that the localized ceasefire would lead to broader progress in the conflict.

Some residents of Oleshky expressed concern about the evacuation route, which passes through Russia and Belarus before reaching Ukrainian-controlled territory, fearing they might not be allowed to continue into Ukraine.

The evacuation convoy included 25 buses with a capacity for 750 passengers, nine ambulances, and over 50 medical professionals, and designated routes into the city had been cleared of mines to facilitate safe passage.