Key facts
- Three planes carrying evacuated residents from Oleshky landed in Belarus.
- The operation involved a joint relief effort by Ukrainian and Russian sides.
- Residents faced severe food and medicine shortages in Oleshky.
- A US-brokered ceasefire is in place to facilitate evacuations.
Three planes carrying residents evacuated from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky landed at Gomel airport in Belarus on Saturday, according to the Belta state news agency. The evacuees, who wish to travel to Ukraine, were transported by bus via the Crimean peninsula to Anapa, Russia, before flying to Belarus. From there, they will proceed to Ukraine via a border crossing. The operation involved a joint relief effort by opposing sides, marking the first such initiative in nearly five years of war. Residents had faced severe shortages of food and medicine in Oleshky, with some resorting to hunting for sustenance. A fragile ceasefire, brokered by the United States, is in effect to facilitate the evacuations and humanitarian aid deliveries.