Oleshky evacuees reunited with families in Ukrainian-held territory

Evacuees from the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian-held territory on Saturday, October 31, and were reunited with their families, according to The Guardian, France 24, Al Jazeera and CBS News. The Guardian reports that residents of nearby villages lined the highway, waving flags, as the evacuees' convoy passed.

The evacuees had travelled through Belarus. Al Jazeera reported that four planes carrying hundreds of people landed in Gomel. France 24 says they then went on to Ukraine by bus.

On Friday, the evacuees left Oleshky for the Russian city of Anapa with a Ukrainian delegation, according to senior Ukrainian official David Arakhamia, as reported by France 24. Ukrainian and Russian officials visited the town together that day, delivered aid and helped those who wanted to leave, France 24 reports.

The operation took place under a local ceasefire. France 24 and CBS News say First Lady Melania Trump negotiated it. Deutsche Welle says she reportedly brokered it. France 24 says the truce is due to end on Sunday evening. The Guardian calls it the most significant truce since Russia's full-scale invasion. France 24 says no joint relief operation like this had happened in the war's four years and eight months.

Some residents stayed. The BBC reports that several hundred people are understood to have chosen to remain, despite no gas, electricity or running water. CBS News says those who stayed were given emergency supplies.