Aid operation, evacuations underway in Ukraine's stricken city of Oleshky

According to CNN, hundreds of people from an occupied town in southern Ukraine who survived months without basic supplies are being evacuated on Friday under a ceasefire agreement negotiated by first lady Melania Trump.[2] CNN reports that Ukrainian authorities say some 2,000 people, including 50 children, have been stuck in the heavily destroyed city[2].CBC reports that Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova said 25 buses were on hand for evacuations, with special provision for those who were bedridden, and 50 medical personnel were present.[1] According to CBC, Lantratova also said a Russian sapper and one other person were killed[1] in the demining work done before the convoy arrived.Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia said on social media that "Evacuation and distribution of humanitarian aid have begun,"[3] ABC News reports.Al Jazeera reports that, according to its correspondent Audrey McAlpine, evacuees would be flown on Saturday from Anapa, in Russia's Krasnodar region, to Belarus, on a plane provided by the Russian Ministry of Defence.[4]Volunteer Ksenia Arkhipova told The Associated Press, as carried by PBS, that Russian troops "are also pressuring local residents to evacuate to Russia, rather than to Ukraine."[5]ABC News reports that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the ceasefire an isolated case[3] and said it should not be extrapolated to the broader peaceful settlement process in Ukraine[3].According to PBS, the localized ceasefire is due to continue through Sunday evening to allow the operation to proceed.[5]