Residents of the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky are evacuating through a four-hour window that opened Friday under a ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump. Up to 750 people can leave on 25 buses and ambulances, traveling through Russian-held territory to the southern Russian city of Anapa, then by plane to Gomel in Belarus, and finally into Ukraine's Chernihiv region.
Several hundred residents have chosen to stay despite widespread devastation and the absence of gas, electricity and running water. Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said those remaining would receive humanitarian assistance. His Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova travelled to Oleshky on Friday to oversee the evacuation, which gave residents the choice of going to Russian-controlled or Ukrainian territory.
One resident told the BBC she decided against leaving because "they wouldn't take my animals, so that's it." Another woman, Olena, said her grandmother and wider family were staying, citing the older generation's reluctance to leave. Russia said Thursday it had prepared "dozens of tonnes" of aid including food, medicine and fuel for generators for those remaining.
The ceasefire covers the entire Kherson frontline region and runs through Sunday, November 1. Russian sappers have been demining the road out of Oleshky since Tuesday to enable evacuation. Ukrainian territory lies 5 kilometers from Oleshky, but evacuees must first pass through Russian-held land.