Ukraine-Russia war: Planes carrying evacuated Oleshky residents land in Belarus after relief mission

Evacuation reaches Belarus

Three planes carrying people evacuated from Oleshky arrived at Gomel airport in Belarus on Saturday, according to reports. Residents had traveled out of the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town by bus as part of a joint relief effort by the opposing sides.

Officials said about 2,000 residents remained in Oleshky and could choose to travel to territory held by Ukraine or Russia, or stay with replenished food and medical supplies. Russia’s representative, Yana Lantratova, said buses also carried residents who wanted to live in Russia.

Aid convoy organized nearby

A humanitarian convoy for Oleshky was organized in a nearby town. A Ukrainian official said it included 25 buses, ambulances and other vehicles. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s ombudsman and chief negotiator, said the mission aimed to deliver aid to residents who needed it. He said officials were giving particular attention to older people and people with disabilities.

Missile supplies and winter warning

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the planned sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Kyiv, while warning that deliveries could take years. He said Ukraine needed the stockpiles now to counter growing Russian ballistic missile attacks as winter approached. Zelensky’s office also announced sanctions against people and entities involved in developing Russia’s Rassvet satellite communications system, which Kyiv says Moscow is expanding for military use.

Fighting continues elsewhere

Ukraine’s emergency services said a Russian drone attack killed one woman and injured eight people in Shostka, in the northeastern Sumy region near the Russian border. Rescue efforts were hindered by repeated air raid alerts.