Kherson sees 5-day pause in drone attacks

The skies over Kherson, Ukraine, were clear of Russian drones and guided bombs this weekend for the first time in a long stretch of time.

The temporary ceasefire, which lasted five days from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1, allowed residents to walk outside without looking up at the heavy mesh nets that cover the city's streets and buildings.

The truce was negotiated by First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV.

It was designed primarily to aid the town of Oleshky, which sits across the Dnipro River from Kherson.

Russian forces occupied Oleshky in 2022 and placed mines in the surrounding land, which blocked the flow of food and medicine.

During the five-day window, hundreds of residents from Oleshky were evacuated and transported by bus to northern Ukraine.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, credited First Lady Trump for ensuring the ceasefire took place.

He said he believes such truces between the two countries can be upheld and honored.

In Kherson itself, the pause in fighting allowed a return to daily routines that had been suspended since 2024.

Since that year, Russian troops based across the river have used FPV drones strapped with explosives to target civilians.

Olena Soboleva and Anna Herasimenko, both 21, met in the city center on a sunny day.

They walked past families with children and shoppers buying supplies, areas that usually see little foot traffic due to the threat of aerial strikes.', "Soboleva noted that no one seemed ready to kill them, and Herasimenko said the city felt alive again, similar to its pre-war state.', "Herasimenko also visited a salon to get a manicure, noting the fresh burgundy polish on her nails while walking through crowded streets.', "Svitlana Vorobiova, a retired police officer, traveled from a safer city to visit her parents and her son.', "Her son, who had not been in his hometown in four years, expressed disbelief at being back in Kherson.', "Vorobiova took photographs with her children at the Greek-style monument that marks the city's gateway.', "Volodymyr Mykolaienko, 66, strolled past the damaged remains of the administrative building where he once served as mayor.', "Mykolaienko was a prisoner of war in Russia for years after his arrest in early 2022, and he was freed in a prisoner exchange last year.', "He used the ceasefire to visit his father's grave in a part of the city that is typically under drone attack.', "Mykolaienko said he was able to pray and thank his father for his life while explaining the current state of their city.', "At a busy bus stop, Olena Yehorova, an oncology nurse, watched a man play folk music on an accordion.', "She described the truce as a relief that allowed the city to breathe, though she said residents still move with caution.', "The ceasefire ended Sunday night.', "Residents expect new attacks to resume at any time.