Hundreds from Russian-occupied Oleshky land in Belarus en route to Ukraine

Hundreds of residents from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky have been transported to Belarus, as part of a major evacuation mission under a truce that the White House says US first lady Melania Trump helped broker.

Four planes carrying the Oleshky evacuees arrived in the south-eastern Belarusian town of Gomel on Saturday, said Ukrainian parliament member David Arakhamia.

The group was met in Gomel by rescue workers, medical teams and Red Cross volunteers, Belarusian state media reported.

From there, they were due to be transported to Ukrainian territory “within hours”, said Arakhamia.

The civilians from Oleshky, which has suffered from major food and medicine shortages after years of fighting, began the long journey out of their region in bus convoys on Friday, under a rare regional truce that is expected to continue through Sunday.

The estimated 2,000 residents were offered the choice of travelling to Ukrainian- or Russian-held territory, or remaining in the city with replenished food and medical supplies.

Russia and Ukraine have not specified how many people chose to leave the city, but Melania Trump posted on Friday said that the humanitarian convoy could safely evacuate more than 750 people.

Russia’s ombudswoman and lead representative on the mission, Yana Lantratova, said buses also transported Oleshky residents who wanted to live in Russia.

Aside from the first lady’s apparent role, Pope Leo XIV – the first American pontiff – also pressed Russian and Ukrainian leaders to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.