A ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian town, began Tuesday as a deal brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump allows humanitarian aid into the area. The truce, set to last until Nov. 1, aims to facilitate the evacuation of civilians and delivery of aid to the town of 2,000 people, including up to 50 children.
Ukraine and Russia confirmed the ceasefire, which started at 3 a.m. local time, following negotiations involving U.S. and Russian officials. The agreement, brokered by Melania Trump, includes a humanitarian corridor to allow residents to evacuate to either Russian or Ukrainian-controlled areas. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed it had stopped shelling in the Kherson sector to prepare for the operation.
The ceasefire comes as the war enters its fifth year, with no clear details on monitoring or duration. International media face limited access to Oleshky, complicating assessments of the humanitarian crisis. Residents face severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, with mined roads and drone attacks making evacuation challenging.