Evacuation begins in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky as an aid convoy sets off under Melania Trump's truce
Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly appealed to the United States to take stronger action in response to the attack.
Up to 6,000 residents, including 200 children, have been trapped in Oleshky without reliable supplies of food, water or electricity, with many reduced to surviving on garden weeds and pigeons. Twenty-five buses, together offering at least 750 seats, assembled in the nearby town of Armyansk, where boarding remained open until 2pm local time before aid packages were to be distributed. Ukrainian soldiers have warned, however, that Russia is exploiting the pause to bring in weapons, ammunition and drones ahead of a renewed push on Kherson.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed ambulances and aid vehicles will accompany the convoy.
Ukraine separately reportedly halted attacks on Russian refineries following pressure from President Trump.
A Russian drone killed 14 people at a train station in Dnipro on Thursday, even as the localised truce held.
