Kherson residents embrace brief window of peace after five-day truce ends
A ceasefire negotiated between Ukraine and Russia allowed civilians to exit their homes and evacuate trapped townspeople before hostilities resumed on Nov. 1.
By Evelyn Adeyemi ·
Residents of Kherson, Ukraine, stepped outside their homes this weekend to walk the streets and visit cafes during a five-day ceasefire. The truce, which ran from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1, was negotiated by First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV. It provided a rare pause in the conflict in the southern city, which has faced constant aerial attacks since Russian troops occupied the area in 2022.
The agreement was designed to facilitate the evacuation of Oleshky, a town across the Dnipro River that Russian forces have mined and blockaded. Since 2024, Russian troops have targeted Kherson civilians with first-person-view drones carrying explosives. In response, the city installed heavy mesh nets over its streets, buildings, and the highway entrance to protect residents.
During the ceasefire, hundreds of residents from Oleshky were transported by bus into northern Ukraine. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman, credited the First Lady with ensuring the truce held. He stated that he believes such agreements between the two nations can be honored.
Olena Soboleva and Anna Herasimenko, both 21, used the break in fighting to meet in the city center. They noted the absence of drones and explosions in the sky. The two friends joined families strolling with children and shoppers stocking up on supplies at a cafe decorated with cat paintings. Herasimenko also visited a salon to paint her nails burgundy, an activity she said she had not done in a long time.
Svitlana Vorobiova, a retired police officer, drove from a safer city to visit her family in Kherson. She took photographs with her children at a Greek-style monument that marks the city's gateway. Vorobiova said her son had not been in his hometown for four years. His reaction was one of disbelief at seeing his home again.
Volodymyr Mykolaienko, a former mayor of Kherson, walked through the city past the ruins of an administrative building. He was arrested by Russian troops in early 2022 and held as a prisoner of war until last year. The truce allowed him to visit his father's grave in a sector of the city that is usually targeted by drones. Mykolaienko said he was able to pray and speak to his father about the current state of the city.
The ceasefire ended on Sunday night. Olena Yehorova, an oncology nurse, said the pause allowed citizens to breathe. She acknowledged that residents still move with caution because they do not trust Russian forces to stop attacks permanently. She expects new strikes to begin at any time.
Local partisans had helped Ukrainian soldiers force Russian troops out of Kherson after several months of occupation in 2022. The city remains under threat from forces based across the river.
