Residents evacuated from Russia-occupied city back in Ukraine

Residents evacuated from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian-held territory on Saturday as part of a U.S.-brokered temporary ceasefire.

The evacuees traveled by bus and plane through Russia and Belarus, after a deal brokered by former First Lady Melania Trump. The operation involved a humanitarian convoy and support from organizations such as the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and the World Central Kitchen.

Oleshky is located in Ukraine’s southeastern Kherson region and has been under Russian occupation since early in the conflict. Ukrainian authorities restricted disclosure of the number of evacuees and the border crossing location to protect those who remained and future missions.

Those who chose to go to Ukraine were taken to the Russian city of Anapa, then flown to Homel in Belarus, and from there returned home. About 2,000 residents were reported as the remaining population in Oleshky at the time, with some offered options to move to Ukrainian- or Russian-held territory or stay with replenished supplies.

Relatives gathered at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, with aid tents, coffee stands, and provisions for evacuees’ pets. The operation included volunteers and aid workers, and officials did not specify the total number who left, though Melania Trump noted on social media that the convoy could safely evacuate more than 750 people.