Hundreds evacuated from Russian-held Oleshky arrive in Belarus

Hundreds of people from Oleshky, a city in southern Ukraine under Russian control, have arrived in Gomel, Belarus, aboard four transport planes as part of a coordinated evacuation effort. The operation represents one of several attempts to relocate civilians from Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, where fighting has caused widespread destruction and displacement.

Oleshky, located in the Zaporizhzhia region, has endured significant damage during the ongoing conflict. The evacuation underscores the humanitarian toll of the war, with civilians seeking to reach safer areas or rejoin family members in government-controlled zones.

The arrival in Gomel indicates the evacuees are transiting through Belarus, a neighboring country that has maintained complex diplomatic relations during the conflict. Arrangements for their onward movement to Ukrainian territory remain part of the evacuation logistics, though specific details about timelines and destinations were not immediately available.

Evacuations from Russian-occupied areas have faced considerable logistical and political challenges throughout the conflict. International humanitarian organizations have documented the difficulties civilians face in leaving war zones, including checkpoints, security concerns, and limited transport options.