Belarus receives Oleshky evacuees in US-backed transfer
Four planes landed in Gomel Saturday carrying residents who fled a Russian-occupied town, with movement into Ukraine expected within hours.
By Matthew Qureshi ·
Four aircraft carrying residents of Oleshky touched down in Gomel, Belarus, on Saturday, marking the final leg of a multi-stage evacuation effort. Ukrainian parliament member David Arakhamia confirmed the arrival and stated that the group would move to Ukrainian territory within hours of landing.
The transfer began on Friday when bus convoys departed the Oleshky region under a temporary regional truce scheduled to hold through Sunday. The White House indicated that First Lady Melania Trump helped broker the agreement that enabled the safe passage of civilians from the Russian-occupied town.
Rescue workers, medical teams, and Red Cross volunteers met the arriving planes in Gomel, according to Belarusian state media. The evacuation offers roughly 2,000 residents three options: move to Ukrainian-held ground, relocate to Russian-held territory, or stay in Oleshky with new supplies of food and medicine.
Oleshky has faced severe shortages of food and medication following years of conflict. While Moscow and Kyiv have not released a final count of those who chose to leave, Melania Trump shared on Friday that the convoy could evacuate more than 750 people safely.
Yana Lantratova, Russia’s ombudswoman and lead representative on the mission, noted that buses also carried residents who elected to reside in Russia. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, also urged both leaders to permit aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
The truce allows for the movement of people and supplies across the contested area. The next phase of the operation involves the immediate transport of the evacuees from Belarus into Ukraine.
