Ceasefire clears mined route as evacuated Ukrainians from Russian-occupied Oleshky arrive in Belarus

Residents reach Gomel

Planes carrying residents from Oleshky landed in Gomel on Saturday morning, Belarusian state media and a senior Ukrainian official said. Belta, Belarus’s state news agency, reported that a bus convoy had left Gomel airport and was travelling towards the Ukrainian border.

Authorities said the evacuees were expected back in Ukraine later on Saturday. The ceasefire that allowed the road out of Oleshky to be demined is set to remain in effect until the end of Sunday 1 November.

A difficult route out

Although Ukrainian military positions are only 5km (3.1 miles) from Oleshky, residents first travelled through Russian-occupied territory. They then reached Anapa in southern Russia and flew from there to Gomel.

The route unfolded amid widespread devastation in Oleshky. Several hundred people are understood to have chosen to stay, despite the lack of gas, electricity and running water.

Visit draws criticism

Lubinets is the first Ukrainian official to visit Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine since the war began. His presence alongside a representative of the Russian occupying power drew a negative reaction from some people in Ukraine. Those critics objected to the appearance of the two officials together, given the deaths of many city residents and the harsh conditions faced by others, the report said.