Civilians from war-ravaged Oleshky arrive in Belarus on their way to Ukrainian territory

Evacuees from the Ukrainian town of Oleshky, located on the Dnipro River, embarked on a journey out of the war-torn region on Friday, traveling in bus convoys. The ceasefire in the southern Kherson region of Ukraine commenced at 3 a.m. on Tuesday and is anticipated to persist until Sunday evening. Approximately 2,000 residents of Oleshky were presented with the option to either proceed to Ukrainian-controlled territory, Russian-controlled territory, or remain in the city while receiving fresh food and medical supplies.

Russia's Ministry of Defense reported that those who opted to travel to Ukrainian-held territory were transported to the Russian city of Anapa and then boarded planes to the Belarusian city of Homel. They were accompanied by Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's commissioner for human rights. The group was greeted upon their arrival in Homel by rescue workers, medical teams, and Red Cross volunteers, as per Belarusian state media outlet Belta.

Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia announced that four planes carrying evacuees destined for Ukraine had landed in Belarus, and the passengers would be in Ukrainian territory "within hours." Yana Lantratova, Russia's ombudswoman and lead representative on the mission, stated that buses also transported Oleshky residents who wished to reside in Russia.

Although Russia and Ukraine have not disclosed the exact number of individuals who chose to leave the city, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, who reportedly facilitated the localized truce, shared on social media that the humanitarian convoy could safely evacuate more than 750 people.

The rare joint humanitarian effort involved cooperation between officials from both countries, providing a brief respite amidst the ongoing conflict. In addition to the U.S. First Lady's role, Pope Leo XIII - the first American pontiff - also urged Russian and Ukrainian leaders to permit aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. U.S. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the approval of Ukraine's acquisition of 500 Patriot interceptors from the United States, urging partners to supply the weapons from existing stocks to safeguard the country during the winter, as Russian forces were continuously attacking Ukraine's energy infrastructure.