Evacuees from Russian-Occupied Oleshky Reach Belarus En Route to Ukraine

usnews.com —

Civilians evacuated from Russian-occupied Oleshky, Ukraine, arrived in Belarus on Saturday as part of a major rescue operation under a significant truce in the Kherson region, with plans to continue to Ukrainian territory. The ceasefire, in effect since Tuesday and expected to last through Sunday, allowed roughly 2,000 remaining residents to choose evacuation to Ukrainian- or Russian-held areas or stay with fresh supplies. Russia transported evacuees via Anapa to Homel, where rescue workers and Red Cross volunteers met them, with Ukrainian officials confirming passengers would reach Ukraine within hours. The rare joint humanitarian effort, reportedly brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump, could evacuate over 750 people, while Pope Leo XIV also pressed for aid access. Separately, President Zelenskyy welcomed U.S. approval of a $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale but urged faster delivery from existing stocks amid daily Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy grid.


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