Hundreds of civilians evacuated from Oleshky arrive in Belarus en route to Ukraine

Oct 31, 12:47 PM2 min readCovered by 6 outlets

Drafted by AI from the sources below, fact-checked by the Ajako Taja Editorial Team · How we use AI

AI Summary

Civilians from the besieged city of Oleshky have reached Belarus as they transit back to Ukraine following a rare humanitarian ceasefire and air evacuation.

Hundreds of residents from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky have landed in Gomel, Belarus, following a humanitarian ceasefire and evacuation effort. The group is traveling through Belarus to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory after months of being besieged.

Four planes carrying evacuees from Oleshky have arrived in Gomel, Al Jazeera reported on October 31. The residents are reportedly in transit to Ukraine following a localized ceasefire that allowed for a relief operation described by The Guardian as the first of its kind in four years and eight months of war. Reuters also confirmed that residents from the Russian-controlled town have reached Belarus.

The evacuation began on Friday during a four-hour window brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, according to the BBC. A humanitarian convoy of 25 buses and ambulances entered the city to deliver food and medicine while collecting those wishing to leave. The Guardian noted that the roads out of the city were de-mined to make the operation possible.

The journey for those returning to Ukraine involves multiple stages. According to The Guardian, evacuees first traveled to the Russian city of Anapa. Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia, who was part of the delegation to Oleshky, confirmed that from Anapa the residents would fly to Belarus before being driven by bus to the Chernihiv region of Ukraine.

While hundreds chose to leave, some residents remained in the city despite the lack of electricity and water. Estimates provided by authorities and volunteers suggest Oleshky's population has dropped to approximately 2,000 people. France 24 reported that humanitarian access remains uncertain despite the temporary cessation of attacks.

Background

Oleshky, located on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro River opposite Kherson, has faced severe shortages of food and medical supplies. The city had been under siege with limited access to basic needs for months prior to the brokered ceasefire.