Evacuated residents of Russian-held Oleshky arrive in Belarus

Hundreds of residents evacuated from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky arrived in Belarus on Saturday, following a U.S.-backed local ceasefire, the first of its kind in the nearly five-year war. Four planes landed in Gomel, with evacuees continuing to Ukraine. The ceasefire, holding since Tuesday without violations, enabled de-mining and delivery of food and medicine to Oleshky, where supply routes were disrupted and starvation was reported. Evacuees traveled via Crimea and Anapa, Russia, before flying to Belarus, according to Belta and Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian negotiator David Arakhamia confirmed the final plane landed, with all citizens and a delegation heading to Ukrainian territory. Around 1,700 people remained in Oleshky from a pre-war population of 24,000, many elderly or ill, with unclear numbers choosing to leave or stay.