Ukrainians Evacuated from Russian-Occupied Oleshky Arrive in Belarus Amid Local Ceasefire

Dozens of Ukrainian civilians evacuated from the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in southern Ukraine arrived in Belarus on Friday, according to regional officials. The evacuation was carried out during a temporary local ceasefire, allowing residents to flee the devastated city located across the Dnipro River from Ukrainian-held Kherson. Oleshky has been under Russian control since early 2022 and has faced relentless shelling and infrastructure collapse. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, accepted the evacuees, though details on their numbers and conditions remain limited. The move raises questions about the treatment and future options for Ukrainians displaced to a country complicit in Russia’s invasion. For months, humanitarian corridors have been rare and often used for political messaging by both sides. The arrival in Belarus marks a rare cross-border evacuation to a third country, rather than to Ukrainian-held territory or Russia. As the war grinds on, the fate of civilians trapped in occupied zones remains a critical humanitarian concern, with international monitors calling for safe passage guarantees. The evacuation underscores the fragile nature of local ceasefires and the desperate choices facing those in frontline communities.