Update — October 31, 2026: Evacuees from Oleshky have reached Ukrainian-held territory after traveling through Russia and Belarus, the Associated Press reported. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed their arrival in Ukraine, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
This is confirmation of arrival, replacing the earlier expectation of onward travel from Belarus. Zelenskyy said the evacuees would receive assistance. Ukrainian authorities are withholding the evacuation total and specific crossing details to protect people remaining in Oleshky and future humanitarian operations, AP reported.
Earlier Reporting — October 31, Arrival in Belarus
Residents evacuated from the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky reached Belarus on October 31, continuing a journey intended to take them to Ukrainian-controlled territory under a localized ceasefire.
Ukrainian lawmaker Davyd Arakhamia said the fourth and final aircraft carrying evacuees had landed in Gomel, also transliterated as Homel. Both the Associated Press and an updated Reuters report carried the four-plane total. Earlier reports had described three aircraft.
Reuters reported that Belarusian state news agency Belta subsequently said buses carrying the residents had left the airport. Arakhamia said the evacuees and the accompanying Ukrainian delegation were expected to reach Ukraine within hours. Those statements described onward travel, rather than confirmation that the group had already crossed the Ukrainian border.
The residents left Oleshky by bus on Friday, October 30. Their route passed through Crimea to Anapa in Russia, followed by flights to Belarus and a planned final bus journey across the border. The route avoided a direct crossing of the nearby front line.
The humanitarian operation follows a temporary local pause in fighting that began Tuesday and was expected to continue through Sunday evening. The White House has credited U.S. first lady Melania Trump with helping broker the arrangement; AP also reported Pope Leo XIV’s involvement in pressing for civilian aid and evacuation.
The number of people who left Oleshky was not established in the reports checked for this article. The previously announced convoy capacity of more than 750 people should not be treated as an actual evacuation count. Residents had options to leave for Ukrainian- or Russian-held territory or remain in the town.
Sources Reuters via The Straits Times — October 31 Updated Evacuation Report: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/residents-of-russian-controlled-ukrainian-town-arrive-in-belarus Associated Press via The Telegraph — October 31 Arrival Report: https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/civilians-from-war-ravaged-oleshky-arrive-in-22503831.php Interfax-Ukraine — Arakhamia's October 31 Statement: https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/1229117-amp.html Associated Press — October 31 Confirmation of Arrival in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-oleshky-evacuation-5cbc7d2a5b8ac34b15c914338fd5a9f3 Ukrainska Pravda — October 31 Zelenskyy Arrival Statement: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/10/31/8060632/