Oleshky Evacuees Find Emotional Reunions at Belarus Border After Ceasefire

Dozens of residents from the Ukrainian town of Oleshky were evacuated to the northern border with Belarus under a temporary ceasefire, leading to tearful reunions with loved ones. BBC correspondent Dan Johnson witnessed the arrival of buses and ambulances carrying evacuees, many of whom had endured weeks of Russian occupation and relentless shelling. The evacuation, organized amid fragile truce negotiations, brought relief to families who feared they might never see their relatives again. Oleshky, located in the Kherson region, has been a flashpoint since the early days of the invasion, with residents trapped by destroyed bridges and shifting front lines. The temporary ceasefire allowed humanitarian corridors to operate, though the situation remains volatile. For those who made it out, the border crossing marked the end of a harrowing journey and the start of an uncertain future. As international observers monitor the ceasefire's durability, the reunions underscore the human cost of the war and the urgent need for sustained humanitarian access.