Hundreds evacuated from Oleshky following Melania Trump brokered ceasefire
Residents were moved from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town to Belarus as part of a joint humanitarian operation.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky on Friday, according to reports from the Times of India and the BBC. The evacuation was part of a humanitarian mission following a ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.
The operation involved a convoy of 25 buses intended to transport up to 750 people by 2 pm local time. Residents were moved by bus through the Crimean peninsula to the Russian town of Anapa, before three planes flew them to Gomel in Belarus on Saturday.
The ceasefire, which has been in effect across the Kherson frontline region since Tuesday, allowed for the clearing of landmines from the road out of Oleshky. According to the BBC, this represents the longest and most extensive ceasefire since the 2022 invasion.
Melania Trump stated that the safe passageway and all convoy elements were established through mutual agreement between Russian and Ukrainian leaders. The mission followed talks between the First Lady and civilian negotiators from both sides after she met with United Nations officials.
Russian human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova said the evacuation occurred without incident and noted a high level of organisation. Lantratova and her Ukrainian counterpart requested that such humanitarian missions be conducted regularly under the coordination of the US First Lady.
