Brief
Hundreds of Ukrainians evacuated from Russian‑occupied Oleshky under ceasefire
Evacuees travelled via Crimea, Russia and Belarus before landing in northern Ukraine, where Red Cross and other NGOs provided aid.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Hundreds of civilians left the Russian‑occupied town of Oleshky on Saturday, crossing back into Ukrainian‑held territory under a localized ceasefire, Independent reported.
What happened
Evacuees were first moved by bus through Crimea to the Russian town of Anapa, then flown to Belarus and finally transferred to northern Ukraine. At a Belarusian airfield, dozens of residents disembarked, many needing assistance to walk, with some carried on stretchers or in wheelchairs. Minimal luggage was carried, and pets arrived in cages.
What the reports add
The Independent noted that the mission was brokered with the involvement of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and appeals from Pope Leo XIV, describing it as the most significant humanitarian pause since Russia’s full‑scale invasion began four and a half years ago. It also highlighted that aid workers from the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and World Central Kitchen set up heated tents, food stations and veterinary posts at a border reception point in northern Ukraine.
What was said
One elderly man in a wheelchair said he had lost 20 kg over the past year and required hospital treatment. Svitlana Yermakova told the outlet that residents had to eat grass and squash to survive, adding she risked riding a bicycle through minefields to fetch food for herself and her dog, Manila. A 94‑year‑old woman described the experience as “escaping from hell” as she left the bus. Liza Paliy, 19, said she had expected a short separation from her father but two years had passed. “We thought at that time that it would be a month, two maximum, and we would return, but unfortunately, two years have already passed,” she said.
How it came about
The evacuation follows a complex, multi‑leg rescue mission that began on 30 October 2026, when a convoy of 25 buses started moving residents out of Oleshky under a ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump. Prior reports indicated that about 2,000 people remained in the town after the first wave, and that the city had faced severe food shortages and limited aid due to Russian restrictions.
Key facts
- Hundreds of Oleshky residents were evacuated on 1 Nov 2026 under a ceasefire. (independent.co.uk)
- Evacuees travelled via Crimea, Russia, Belarus and arrived in northern Ukraine. (independent.co.uk)
- Aid workers from the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and World Central Kitchen provided heated tents, food and veterinary posts. (independent.co.uk)
- Svitlana Yermakova said residents ate grass and squash to survive. (independent.co.uk)
- The mission was brokered with involvement of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “‘We escaped from hell’: Hundreds of Ukrainians return from Russian occupied Oleshky”
