Four aircraft carrying evacuees from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky have landed at an airport near the Belarusian city of Homel, citing Belarusian state news agency Belta and a high-ranking Ukrainian official.
Planes Land in Homel After Bus Journey Through Crimea
Evacuated residents wishing to travel to Ukraine journeyed by bus across the Crimean Peninsula to the Russian city of Anapa. From there, they continued on flights to Belarus and are now scheduled to move into Ukrainian territory. Evacuees were given a choice upon departure whether to remain in Russia or continue toward Ukraine, with a portion of the group already splitting off to stay on Russian territory.
Delegates Meet on Neutral Ground as Demining Operations Finish
Ukrainian ombudsman Dmytro Lubinec traveled to neutral territory in Belarus, and Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova visited Oleshky. Lantratova stated that 25 buses were deployed to transport roughly 750 people, while Russian state media noted that surrounding demining operations resulted in two deaths. Davyd Arachamija, a Ukrainian lawmaker and leading peace negotiator and close ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed via Reuters that the fourth and final aircraft had landed in Homel.
Three planes carrying residents evacuated from Oleshky arrive in Belarus, news agency reports https://t.co/YsjdgmpIeK
Ceasefire Brings Temporary Calm to Cherson Despite Ongoing War
The multi-day local ceasefire brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump allowed humanitarian aid to reach Oleshky, which Reuters noted was the first such move during the war. In nearby Cherson, separated from Oleshky by the Dnipro River, residents experienced an unusual calm after years of shelling and drone attacks. Mykola Bucula of the Ukrainian State Emergency Service told the BBC that people had returned to the streets, though a Russian drone strike simultaneously struck Chernihiv in the north, injuring four people.
Dwindling Population Faces Severe Shortages in Occupied Oleshky
Oleshky once held a population of 24,000 residents, but reports indicate fewer than 2,000 people remained before the current evacuation. The city has suffered from a severe lack of food, medicine, and drinking water, with some residents reported to have died of hunger. Mychajlo, who helps with evacuation preparations, told Ukrajinska Pravda that some elderly or exhausted inhabitants lacked the physical strength to attempt the journey out of the occupied zone.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Oleshky Evacuation
Who brokered the ceasefire that enabled the Oleshky evacuation?
The multi-day local ceasefire was brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump to permit both evacuations and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the isolated city.
How many residents were left in Oleshky before the evacuation flights began?
While Oleshky previously had a population of approximately 24,000 people, local estimates indicate that fewer than 2,000 residents remained in the city prior to the current rescue operation.
Where did the evacuees travel after leaving the occupied city by bus?
Evacuees traveled by bus across Crimea to the Russian city of Anapa, boarded flights to Homel in Belarus, and prepared to cross over into Ukrainian territory.
Did all evacuees choose to travel onward to Ukraine?
No. Evacuees were given a choice upon leaving, and a portion of the group already separated from the main convoy to remain on Russian territory.
Evacuated residents of the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky have arrived in Gomel, Belarus. They will be in Ukraine in just a few hours pic.twitter.com/dkE3QlPXeo
Oleshky evacuees are arriving in Belarus, after departing Ukraine through Russia, and will soon be arriving in Kyiv.@Newsmax followed their journey and documented the humanitarian effort that was made possibly by the ceasefire brokered by @FLOTUS Melania Trump. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/BtBbtucBU6
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