A local truce lets hundreds leave Oleshky, with evacuees flown to Gomel in Belarus

31 October 2026

A rare local truce around Oleshky in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine allowed bus convoys to leave the town, and hundreds of evacuees were then flown in four aircraft to Gomel in south-eastern Belarus. Belarusian rescue workers, medical teams and Red Cross volunteers received the group at Gomel, and Ukrainian officials said they would be moved on to Ukrainian-held territory. Residents were given a choice of going to Ukrainian-held or Russian-held areas or staying in Oleshky with replenished food and medical supplies. The United Nations said it had no role in the evacuation itself and was providing humanitarian aid to the evacuees once they reached the Ukrainian side, while its humanitarian office reported continuing attacks on aid vehicles. Russia's ombudswoman Yana Lantratova led the mission on the Russian side, and Ukrainian parliament member David Arakhamia confirmed the arrival of the aircraft.