Oleshky pauses fighting for aid
A four-hour truce began Monday morning in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city to allow for food deliveries and civilian evacuations.
By Connor Murphy ·
A ceasefire took effect in Oleshky, a city in Ukraine's Kherson region, at 01:00 GMT on Monday. The pause in fighting was announced one week ago by US First Lady Melania Trump. Its purpose is to enable humanitarian aid delivery and the evacuation of remaining civilians.
Russia's defense ministry stated on Telegram that it stopped firing toward the city of Kherson across the river at 04:00 Moscow time. Oleshky sits on the south bank of the Dnipro River, which marks the front line in the region. Residents have faced severe shortages of food and essential supplies.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights commissioner and head of the negotiating team, confirmed the truce began. "As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments," he wrote on Facebook.
Russia captured Oleshky in February 2022 during the initial phase of its invasion. The city originally held 24,000 people. Ukraine currently estimates that 6,000 residents remain in the area, including 200 children.
The White House said Trump secured the agreement. She stated in a press release that civilian leaders from both nations would visit residents to assess their needs. Trump previously wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2025 urging him to protect children.
Source: BBC News
