Evacuees from Russia-controlled Oleshky arrive back in Ukraine amid U.S.-brokered ceasefire

Residents evacuated from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky arrived back in Ukraine on Saturday amid a localized U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. 

The halt in fighting, which was secured earlier this month by first lady Melania Trump, went into effect on Tuesday and is set to last through Saturday. 

Residents were given the choice of being transported to Russia, Ukraine or remaining in the city with replenished food supplies. Those who chose to return to Ukraine were transported through Russia and Belarus before reaching the country’s Chernihiv region on Saturday. 

The city, which is located in the Russian-controlled Kherson region, has faced shortages in food, medicine and other vital supplies amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Around 2,000 people were reportedly trapped in the city, including a large elderly population. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the first lady for her efforts to secure the localized ceasefire in a Saturday social media post announcing the........

© The Hill