4 planes carry evacuated Oleshky residents to Belarus en route to Ukraine
What's next: buses from Gomel were headed to the Ukrainian border after a local ceasefire opened the first humanitarian exit from Oleshky in years.
Four planes carrying residents evacuated from Russian-controlled Oleshky landed in Gomel, Belarus, on Oct. 31, marking the first large-scale civilian exit from the town under a local ceasefire in the Kherson frontline region. Ukrainian official David Arakhamia said the evacuees, traveling with a Ukrainian delegation, were expected to return to Ukrainian territory within hours. Belarusian state media reported a bus convoy then left Gomel airport for the border. Residents first left Oleshky by bus via Crimea to Anapa in Russia before flying to Belarus. The ceasefire, in force since Oct. 27, allowed roads to be demined and aid delivered after months of shortages. Ukrainian officials had said about 1,700 people remained in the town before the evacuation.