Oleshky evacuees reach Ukraine and reunite with families as rare humanitarian mission ends

A humanitarian mission in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky has ended. Russian forces have controlled the southern Ukrainian town since the early days of the 2022 full-scale invasion, and years of intense bombardment and deteriorating conditions have led to a humanitarian crisis. A rare agreement between the two countries allowed hundreds of civilians to evacuate, the first operation of its kind since the war began. The mission was negotiated between Ukraine and Russia with the involvement of US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo. Ukraine’s ombudsman hopes the mission’s success will pave the way for more humanitarian operations. But the ceasefire is temporary, and hundreds have chosen to remain in Oleshky, where the threat of renewed fighting hangs over them. Al Jazeera’s Audrey MacAlpine reports from the Ukraine-Belarus border. Subscribe to our channel: bit.ly
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