Ceasefire begins in Oleshky as 6,000 civilians await aid

Fighting stopped in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky on Sunday, initiating a ceasefire designed to deliver food and evacuate civilians. Russia's defence ministry announced that forces halted fire toward Kherson at 04:00 Moscow time, marking the start of a humanitarian operation. Kherson sits on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River, where the front line runs in the Kherson region.

Ukraine's human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, verified the pause in hostilities via Facebook. Writing as the head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, Lubinets stated, "As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments." The city, captured by Russian forces in the days following the February 2022 invasion, has been a focal point for aid efforts due to its isolated position.

The population of Oleshky has dropped sharply since the war began. With a pre-war count of 24,000, the area now houses roughly 6,000 residents, including 200 children, according to Ukrainian estimates. These remaining civilians have faced severe shortages of food and essential supplies while positioned between Ukrainian troops across the river and Russian forces to the east.

The White House attributed the truce to the efforts of First Lady Melania Trump, who announced the agreement last week. In a press release, Trump said that non-military leaders from both nations would visit homes to assess assistance needs. This role marks a shift for a first lady who has typically maintained a lower profile than her predecessors.

Trump has engaged with the conflict's humanitarian dimension beyond this recent announcement. In August 2025, she sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging it was "time to protect children and future generations worldwide." The current ceasefire follows that correspondence and is intended to provide immediate relief to the shrinking population of the occupied city.