First Lady Melania Trump Facilitates Ceasefire in Oleshky
The White House announced that a cease-fire in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Oleshky will start on Oct. 29, allowing humanitarian aid and evacuations.
The White House said a temporary cease-fire between Russian and Ukrainian forces in the city of Oleshky will begin on Oct. 29, creating a corridor for humanitarian assistance and civilian evacuations. "Both nations agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway," the statement read.
Melania Trump, the U.S. first lady, said the town’s remaining population, largely elderly, faces urgent needs for medical care, food and clean water. She added that non-military teams from both sides will be allowed to visit homes and coordinate transport for residents wishing to leave, with an American media organization present to document the effort.
Oleshky, across the Dnipro River from Kherson, now has about 1,700-2,000 residents, down from roughly 24,000 before the war, according to the White House. The city was heavily flooded after the Kakhovka Dam breach, and about 90% of it remains inundated. The cease-fire arrangement was reportedly negotiated directly by Melania Trump and her representative with Russian and Ukrainian leaders.