Oleshky Evacuees Arrive in Belarus Before Heading to Ukraine

On Saturday, four planes evacuated residents from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky, landing in Belarus before proceeding to Ukraine, according to Belarusian state news agency Belta and a Ukrainian official. This marked the first and longest humanitarian ceasefire in the five-year conflict. The final plane touched down in Gomel, Belarus, as reported by David Arakhamia, a senior Ukrainian peace negotiator and close ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The evacuees, who were starving and exhausted, had traveled from Oleshky through Crimea to Anapa, Russia, before flying to Belarus. They would then continue their journey to Ukraine via a border crossing.

The ceasefire was brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and the Pope, holding without violations since Tuesday. This allowed for de-mining of roads and the delivery of much-needed supplies, including food, medicine, and other essentials. However, supply routes had been disrupted by fighting and drones, leaving residents in dire straits. According to residents, food deliveries had ceased in May, leading to hundreds of people facing starvation.

It is unclear how many people decided to leave Oleshky, with Ukrainian officials reporting around 1,700 residents out of a pre-war population of approximately 24,000 remaining in the town. Many of those who stayed were elderly or ill. The Moscow Times has been labeled as an "undesirable organization" by Russia's Prosecutor General's Office, which could result in criminal prosecution for its staff.

The journalists of The Moscow Times, however, remain committed to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia, urging readers to support their work by contributing as little as $2 per month.