Residents of Occupied Oleshky Airlifted to Belarus
People from the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky in Kherson region were evacuated by three aircraft to Gomel Airport in Belarus. The evacuation route passed through Russia and Belarus, with the ultimate goal of returning evacuees to Ukrainian-controlled territory. A tent camp has been set up at Gomel to accommodate the arrivals, who are also receiving medical care.
Belarusian news agency Belta and Russian outlet RIA Novosti reported the evacuees’ arrival. The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the day before that Russian Aerospace Forces military transport planes carried residents from Oleshky to Gomel. The first flight landed at Gomel Airport around 9 a.m. Evacuees traveled by bus to Anapa before boarding the planes to Belarus, with the flight lasting several hours.
Preparations to Receive Evacuees in Gomel
Gomel Airport has been equipped with a tent settlement to welcome the evacuees. Emergency responders, medical teams, and Red Cross volunteers are on site providing assistance. Medical personnel conduct health assessments and deliver first aid as needed. Alongside the evacuees, their pets were also transported. After arrival, the evacuees await onward travel to the Nova Huta checkpoint for entry back into Ukraine. Two additional planes carrying Oleshky residents landed later at Gomel Airport.
On October 30, a Ukrainian delegation arrived in the temporarily occupied Oleshky area to carry out a humanitarian mission. At the time of the report, a ceasefire had been in place for 80 hours. The evacuation route was chosen due to security concerns near the front line, including mined areas and the absence of river crossings.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Ombudsman, stated: 'The humanitarian convoy has already been assembled and prepared for dispatch.'
For the evacuation, 25 buses with a total capacity of 750 seats were arranged, along with special vehicles for people with limited mobility and nine ambulances.
The Ukrainian delegation is escorting evacuees to Anapa in Russia, from where they fly to Belarus and then continue by bus back to Ukraine. Plans are also underway to deliver humanitarian aid directly to Oleshky based on local needs.
This evacuation highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, where residents face severe challenges stemming from active conflict. The Ukrainian team’s efforts to provide safety and medical support are crucial for helping evacuees rebuild their lives after enduring prolonged occupation. Continued humanitarian assistance remains essential to stabilize conditions and support recovery in the area.
The ongoing situation in Oleshky highlights the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian efforts. As the evacuation progresses, plans are being developed to ensure safe evacuations and continuous aid delivery to those affected by the conflict. This initiative aims to provide necessary support and resources to residents in the region, further emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in crisis response.