Evacuated Oleshky Residents Reach Belarus After Ceasefire

Residents evacuated from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Oleshky reached Gomel, Belarus, on Saturday morning after escaping the devastated settlement under a temporary humanitarian ceasefire. Ukrainian officials said the evacuees were expected to return to Ukrainian territory within hours, following an evacuation operation involving Russian and Ukrainian representatives.

The residents left Oleshky on Friday during a locally negotiated pause in fighting brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump. Their evacuation became possible after authorities secured a temporary agreement allowing roads out of the occupied city to be cleared of landmines.

Belarusian state media reported that planes carrying the evacuees landed in Gomel on Saturday morning. The state-owned Belta news agency subsequently reported that buses transporting the residents had departed the airport and were heading toward the Ukrainian border.

David Arakhamia, a senior Ukrainian official, confirmed the arrival of the final aircraft and outlined the expected return of the group.

"The last, fourth plane landed in Gomel (Belarus). In a few hours, all Ukrainian citizens evacuated from Oleshky, together with the Ukrainian delegation, will be on Ukrainian territory," said David Arakhamia.

The evacuation followed a humanitarian ceasefire that took effect across the frontline region of Kherson on Tuesday. The arrangement provided the first period of several days without fighting in the area in four years, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The agreement allowed authorities to clear the evacuation route and is scheduled to remain in effect until the end of Sunday, November 1. Residents were given four hours to leave before the evacuation convoy departed Oleshky on Friday afternoon.

The operation involved 25 buses with capacity for 750 people, accompanied by ambulances to assist residents with limited mobility. However, several hundred people reportedly chose to remain in the heavily damaged city despite shortages of gas, electricity, and running water.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets addressed the situation of residents who declined evacuation. He said assistance would remain available to those staying behind.

"Will receive all the necessary humanitarian assistance," Lubinets said, referring to residents who decided to remain in Oleshky.

Russian authorities also announced preparations to support people who remained in the city. On Thursday, Russia said it had assembled "dozens of tonnes" of humanitarian supplies, including food, medicine, hygiene products, and fuel for generators.

The evacuation route required residents to cross Russian-controlled territory before reaching the southern Russian city of Anapa. From there, they boarded aircraft bound for Gomel, Belarus, rather than traveling directly into Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Lubinets and his Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, traveled together to Oleshky on Friday after departing from Armiansk in the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. Their joint visit formed part of the negotiations and coordination needed to facilitate the evacuation.

Lubinets became the first Ukrainian official to visit Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine since the beginning of the war. His cooperation with Lantratova drew criticism from some Ukrainians who objected to seeing a Ukrainian representative alongside an official representing the Russian occupying authorities.

Ukrainian military positions are approximately 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) from Oleshky, highlighting the proximity of the frontline to the occupied settlement. The temporary ceasefire has provided an opportunity for residents to leave while humanitarian arrangements remain in place through November 1.