US First Lady Melania Trump has publicly commented for the first time on the completion of the humanitarian mission to evacuate residents of temporarily occupied Oleshky in the Kherson region. In a post on the social network X, she stated that the successful conclusion of the operation brings «hope for a sustainable peace» between Ukraine and Russia. «Oleshky proves that we can put humanity above war», wrote the wife of the US president, adding: «Together we can build a peaceful planet, a world full of hope for our children».
The Humanitarian Mission Was Preceded by Public Advocacy
Throughout the period of the blockade of civilians in Oleshky, Melania Trump acted as one of the public advocates for the introduction of a ceasefire in the city area. Her calls on the parties to the conflict to ensure safe conditions for the evacuation of civilians resonated widely in international media. As part of the mission's conclusion, the US First Lady reposted a message from Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, in which he announced the completion of the rescue operation.
All Willing Residents Evacuated, Aid Delivered to Those Staying Behind
According to the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner, the fourth and final plane carrying Ukrainian citizens evacuated from Oleshky landed in Gomel, Belarus. Just hours later, the evacuees, accompanied by the Ukrainian delegation, were scheduled to arrive in territory controlled by Kyiv. Lubinets confirmed that all residents of Oleshky who wanted to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory were able to use the evacuation, while humanitarian aid was delivered to those who decided to stay.
Silence Regime: 87 Hours Without Incidents
On October 27, a ceasefire was introduced in the Oleshky area of the Kherson region to conduct a humanitarian mission, which included aiding civilians and evacuating them. The silence regime remains in effect until 22:59 on November 1. The Ukrainian Ombudsman previously reported that the first 30 hours of the truce passed without incidents, and by the end of the mission, the silence regime had been maintained for over 87 hours. According to him, the Ukrainian side continued to coordinate the implementation of the reached agreements in order to help the city's residents.
Prospects for Monthly Humanitarian Aid
In addition to the direct evacuation, according to Fox News, Ukraine and Russia agreed on a mechanism for monthly humanitarian aid in the Kherson region following the completion of the mission in Oleshky. This decision, if fully implemented, could become one of the first sustainable humanitarian mechanisms of interaction between the parties to the conflict in the occupied territories. Melania Trump's statement about «hope for a sustainable peace» in this context is perceived as a public acknowledgment that local humanitarian initiatives can create precedents for a broader dialogue.
