Ukrainians evacuated from Oleshky arrived at Gomel Airport in Belarus on three separate flights, according to reports from the local news agency BelTA.

Residents of Oleshky were first transported by bus to the Russian Black Sea city of Anapa. They then spent several hours traveling by air to Gomel. Upon arrival, they were met by emergency service personnel, medical teams, and Red Cross volunteers. Reports said that evacuees were also able to bring their pets with them.

At the airport, the residents of Oleshky are expected to wait before traveling to the Nova Huta border crossing in the Gomel region, where they are set to re-enter Ukraine.

Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that Oleshky residents who wished to leave for Ukrainian-controlled territory had been flown to Gomel on Russian military transport aircraft. Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets is said to be accompanying the group.

Buses carrying Ukrainians evacuated from Oleshky are expected to cross the state border in the Chernihiv region later the same day. This was reported by a Ukrainian Telegram channel linked in media reports to the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov.

Later, lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia said that the final, fourth aircraft had landed in Gomel. According to him, all Ukrainian citizens evacuated from Oleshky, together with the Ukrainian delegation, were expected to return to Ukrainian territory within several hours.

Evacuation from Oleshky: latest updates

The previous evening, it became known that more than 750 residents were expected to be evacuated from Oleshky in the Kherson region as part of a humanitarian operation. The convoy included 25 buses, 50 medical workers, and ambulance vehicles.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said that the operation in Oleshky was entering its final stage. He added that food, drinking water, medicine, and specialized equipment for the local hospital had been delivered to the city.

Russian media sources reported that most residents expressed a desire to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine. According to those reports, 17 buses were heading toward Ukraine, while four buses were traveling to Russia.

Other related news

• European officials continue discussions on energy security and the future of Russian gas supplies

• Poland’s leadership calls for urgent consultations amid a political dispute over state institutions

• Germany updates its policies for Ukrainian refugees and outlines possible entry restrictions