Humanitarian truce starts in Oleshky following First Lady Melania Trump's announcement
A ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky has begun to enable aid deliveries and civilian evacuations, according to officials.
A humanitarian truce has taken effect in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, a week after US First Lady Melania Trump announced the pause in hostilities. Russia’s defence ministry said on Telegram that it stopped firing toward the nearby city of Kherson at 04:00 Moscow time (01:00 GMT) to facilitate the operation.
The ceasefire aims to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians who have faced severe shortages of food and essential supplies. Ukraine’s parliament commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed the ceasefire on social media, stating, "As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments."
Oleshky, situated on the south bank of the Dnipro River, was seized by Russian forces in February 2022. The city, which housed about 24,000 residents before the invasion, now has an estimated 6,000 people remaining, including roughly 200 children.
The White House noted that Melania Trump secured the ceasefire, adding that non-military civilian leaders from both sides would visit residents to assess assistance needs. The First Lady has increasingly engaged in humanitarian efforts related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.