Five days of quiet in Kherson after rare ceasefire

Russian and Ukrainian forces paused their fighting in southern Ukraine from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1, creating a five-day window of silence in the Kherson region. The ceasefire was negotiated by First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV. It ended Sunday night, returning the area to its usual state of aerial bombardment.

The agreement was reached primarily to assist Oleshky, a town located across the Dnipro River from Kherson. Russian troops occupied Oleshky in 2022 and planted mines in the surrounding land. Supplies of food and medicine struggled to reach the area during the occupation. Families in the town reported that residents survived on pickles and boiled weeds before the truce.

During the five-day pause, hundreds of residents from Oleshky were evacuated. They were transported on buses to northern Ukraine. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, credited the First Lady with ensuring the ceasefire held. Lubinets stated that he believes truces between the two nations can be upheld and honored.

In Kherson city, the break in fighting allowed people to step outside without fear of drones. For years, Russian forces have used first-person-view drones to target civilians in the city. To protect residents, heavy mesh nets cover the streets and many buildings. The highway leading into the city is also lined with these anti-drone nets.

Twenty-one-year-old Olena Soboleva and her friend Anna Herasimenko walked the streets during the truce. They observed families strolling with children and couples holding hands. The two women visited a cafe featuring cat paintings. Herasimenko also went to a salon, where she painted her nails burgundy. She noted that the city felt alive again, similar to its pre-war state.

Svitlana Vorobiova, a retired police officer, drove to Kherson from a safer city. She met her children at a Greek-style monument that marks the city's gateway. Vorobiova's son had not visited his hometown in four years. He expressed disbelief at being back in the place where he grew up.

Volodymyr Mykolaienko, a former mayor of Kherson, walked through the city during the pause. He passed the damaged remains of an administrative building and shook hands with locals. Mykolaienko, 66, was captured by Russian troops in early 2022 and held as a prisoner of war. He was released last year in a prisoner exchange.

The ceasefire allowed Mykolaienko to visit his father's grave in a part of the city usually targeted by drones. He said he was able to pray, thank his father for his life, and describe the current condition of their city. He described the visit as a long-held desire that he could finally fulfill.

Olena Yehorova, an oncology nurse, watched a man play an accordion at a busy bus stop. She described the truce as a relief for the population, allowing them to breathe. However, she noted that residents still move with caution because they cannot fully trust the opposing side. She looked up at the sky and expected new attacks to begin at any time.

The truce marked a temporary return to normalcy in a city that has faced constant threat since 2024. While the pause provided time for evacuation and personal visits, the underlying conflict remains unresolved. The next wave of strikes is anticipated to resume following the end of the agreement.