Evacuees from Russian-occupied Oleshky crossed into Ukrainian-held territory Saturday in a major rescue operation carried out under the most significant truce since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine 4½ years ago.
The civilians traveled by bus and plane through Russia and Belarus, following a deal brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump. Ukrainian authorities imposed restrictions on disclosing the number of evacuees or the border crossing location. The measures are to safeguard those who chose to remain in Oleshky as well as to protect future humanitarian missions, the organizers said.
The ceasefire in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, which began at 3 a.m. Tuesday, is expected to continue through Sunday evening. The estimated 2,000 remaining residents of Oleshky were offered the choice of traveling to Ukrainian- or Russian-held territory, or remaining in the city with replenished food and medical supplies.
Those who chose to return to Ukraine were taken to the Russian city of Anapa then flown to Homel in Belarus, from where they proceeded back home.
Relatives waited on Saturday at the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, along with aid tents, coffee stands and even provisions to feed the pets the evacuees were bringing with them. Volunteers from organizations, including the Red Cross, Doctors without Borders and the World Central Kitchen, were also there.
Liza Paliy, 19, who last saw her father over 2½ years ago when she, her mother and sister fled from the occupied territory while he stayed behind, was among those waiting.
“We thought at that time that it would be a month, two maximum, and we would return, but unfortunately, two years have already passed,” she said.
Daria Pavlyn also waited at the border in hopes of reuniting with her father, Mykhailo, whom she had not heard from in about a month.
