Evacuations of civilians from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region began on Friday as part of a localized ceasefire that has held since late October.

The operation, facilitated by a temporary truce brokered with involvement from U.S. first lady Melania Trump, marks the first joint humanitarian effort of its kind between the two sides in over four years of full-scale war. A convoy of 25 buses and nine ambulances delivered food, medicine, and other supplies before transporting residents who wished to leave.

Ukrainian and Russian officials coordinated the effort, with evacuees initially heading through Russian-annexed Crimea. Some continued to Ukrainian-controlled areas via a lengthy route through southern Russia and Belarus, while others opted to remain in Russia. Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets led the delegation on the ground, and Russian counterpart Yana Lantratova confirmed the process proceeded smoothly with no incidents.

Approximately 2,000 people remain in Oleshky out of a pre-war population of around 24,000. The town has faced severe shortages of food and medicine due to its position near the front lines. The ceasefire, which covers parts of the Kherson region, is scheduled to expire on Sunday.

The Trump administration's diplomatic push, including direct engagement by the first lady, has enabled this rare cooperation. Both sides have credited the U.S. role in establishing safe passage and demining operations ahead of the convoy's arrival. Two individuals were killed during demining work earlier in the week.

This localized success comes amid broader U.S.-led efforts to advance peace talks, with technical-level discussions between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States expected in November. Officials on both sides described the Oleshky operation as isolated but noted it demonstrated potential for further humanitarian coordination.