Ukrainians evacuate from Russian-occupied Oleshky following humanitarian ceasefire
Hundreds of residents crossed into northern Ukraine via Belarus after a ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump allowed for evacuations.
Hundreds of residents from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky arrived in the Chernihiv region on Saturday, according to BBC News. The evacuees travelled through Russian-occupied territory and southern Russia before flying to Belarus to reach northern Ukraine.
The evacuation was made possible by a humanitarian ceasefire in the Kherson region, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump. This ceasefire provided the first few days of peace in the area in four years, allowing residents to leave the city.
Oleshky was seized by Russia during the first days of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The city is situated between the Dnipro River and Russian forces.
Residents faced extreme conditions, including intensified shelling and dwindling supplies. One resident, Olha, said people attempted to cross minefields to find food, while others cooked garden weeds to survive.
It is believed that up to 6,000 people, including 200 children, remain in Oleshky and the surrounding areas. Approximately 1,700 people are still living within the city itself.
The evacuation process on Friday included a convoy of 25 buses for up to 750 evacuees and ambulances for those with limited mobility. Many evacuees have now been reunited with family members in Chernihiv.
