Oleshky Evacuees Arrive in Belarus: Four Planes Land in Gomel Under the Ceasefire

The way home from Oleshky runs through two other countries. Four planes carrying residents evacuated from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town landed in Belarus on Saturday, the Belarusian Belta state news agency and a senior Ukrainian official said, Reuters reported from Kyiv. "The last, fourth plane landed in Gomel," said David Arakhamia, a top Ukrainian peace negotiator. "In a few hours, all Ukrainian citizens evacuated from Oleshky together with a Ukrainian delegation will be on Ukrainian territory."

The route explains the days it took. Because the front line runs just a few kilometres from the town, the evacuees first travelled by bus via Crimea to the Russian town of Anapa, then flew to Gomel in southeastern Belarus, and will cross into Ukraine by road, Belta said; a bus convoy had already left Gomel airport for the border by Saturday. Hundreds of starving and exhausted residents left Oleshky on Friday during the U.S.-backed local ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have said around 1,700 people remained in the town, from a pre-war population of about 24,000.

The ceasefire itself is the story underneath the flights. Reuters reported it was reached thanks to mediation efforts by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and with the pope's involvement, has held since Tuesday without violations according to both Ukrainian and Russian officials, and is due to last until Sunday evening. The First Lady said Friday that a convoy was ready to evacuate more than 750 people who voluntarily chose to leave, with 25 buses, 50 medical professionals and ambulances involved, according to Euronews' account.

This station covered the ceasefire when the White House announced it on October 23. Saturday's arrivals are its first completed movement of people - and, if the truce holds through Sunday, a template both sides will be pressed to repeat for the residents who chose to stay and for other front-line towns.