Kherson Ceasefire Ends: 2,000 Evacuated as Drone Strikes Intensify

An estimated 2,000 civilians in the front-line city of Oleshky faced a critical decision as a localized ceasefire in Kherson region ended on Sunday evening. The temporary truce, which began early Tuesday and was brokered with the help of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump according to the White House, served as the most substantial pause in hostilities since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion four and a half years ago. The window of silence allowed for a rare joint evacuation operation that concluded on Saturday.

Residents of Oleshky were given the option to move to Ukrainian or Russian-controlled territory or remain in their homes with replenished food and medical supplies. Authorities did not release the final count of those who stayed, citing safety concerns for the remaining population. At the border on Saturday, relatives waited for arriving family members while villagers lined the highway with flags and flashlights to greet the humanitarian convoy.

The quiet in Kherson was temporary, as both sides continued aerial strikes elsewhere. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Sunday that Russia was targeting Ukraine's energy systems ahead of winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of families without power. He noted on social media that the intensity of the attacks was high, as Moscow attempted to exploit Ukraine's shortage of ballistic missile interceptors.

In Kherson, the Mykola Kulish Regional Academic Music and Drama Theater continued its schedule despite the end of the truce. Head of the theater Oleksandr Knyha told an audience, "Don't be afraid, keep holding on." The company, which performs in a basement and is equipping a bomb shelter, has not canceled a show in four years. Costume maker Alla Vasylenko, 58, described the silence of the truce as frightening, stating that she has no plans to leave due to a lack of funds and the presence of 10 dogs. The trip to leave would cost between 30,000 and 50,000 hryvnias, a substantial amount for her.

Ukraine's air force reported that Moscow launched 433 drones overnight, destroying or suppressing 371. In the Vinnytsia region, a drone struck a vocational school, killing two people and injuring three others, including two young girls. Russian media reported that Ukrainian drones caused a fire at the Kstovo oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, leading local officials to limit gasoline sales. Zelenskyy said Kyiv also struck a missile component factory and air defense sites in Russia's Rostov region.

The theater in Kherson staged a concert featuring a musical map of Ukraine, ranging from Crimea to the Carpathian mountains. Knyha, who is from the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River in Oleshky, said the performance serves to unite people and provide hope. He noted that the theater's 100 staff members in Kherson have not evacuated, maintaining their presence on the front line.