Evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky reach Ukrainian-held territory after humanitarian convoy

Around 750 residents of Oleshky, a city on the Dnipro River under Russian control, were transferred to Ukrainian-held territory after a humanitarian convoy operated under a localized ceasefire in the Kherson region. The evacuation, which began on Friday, involved bus convoys and four aircraft that flew evacuees through Russia and Belarus before landing in Belarus and moving on to Ukrainian soil.

Ukrainian officials said the operation was conducted under strict restrictions that barred disclosure of the exact number of evacuees and the crossing point, citing security concerns for those remaining in Oleshky and for future humanitarian missions. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s commissioner for human rights, accompanied the group to Homel airport in Belarus, where he posted a video saying, "We will be home soon!"

Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia added that the passengers would be on Ukrainian territory "within hours" after the planes landed. Volunteers from the Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and the World Central Kitchen were present at the border, providing assistance and support for families reuniting after years of separation.

The ceasefire, which began at 3 a.m. on Tuesday, was described by the White House as being brokered with assistance from U.S. first lady Melania Trump. The effort marked a rare joint humanitarian initiative between Russia and Ukraine amid ongoing hostilities.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence reported that some Oleshky residents opting for Russian-held territory were taken to Anapa and then flown to Homel. Russian ombudsperson Yana Lantratova said buses also carried those choosing to relocate to Russia, and Russian media showed civilians arriving at a temporary site in Simferopol, Crimea.

In related developments, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed U.S. approval of a sale of 500 PAC-3 Patriot interceptors for Ukraine, urging partners to provide the missiles from existing stocks to address the country's winter defence needs. He also called for additional sanctions on Russia following recent drone attacks on Ukrainian energy and railway infrastructure.