Russia, Ukraine agree local truce for aid in Oleshky
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt military operations in the occupied city of Oleshky from October 29, the White House said, allowing aid deliveries and preparations to evacuate civilians. The announcement comes as an estimated 2,000 people face severe shortages of food, water and electricity. Melania Trump said residents would receive support and transport to a destination of their choice.
For residents trapped by shortages in occupied Oleshky, a pause in fighting could open a route to aid and evacuation. Russia and Ukraine agree local ceasefire arrangements for the southern Ukrainian city from October 29, the White House said, allowing humanitarian deliveries and preparations to move civilians.
The agreement applies to all military operations in Oleshky, which has been under Russian occupation since February 2022. An estimated 2,000 people remain there, facing severe shortages of food, water and electricity.
Some residents have reportedly survived on weeds, boiled grass, bread and meagre rations. The planned halt is intended to create space for assistance to reach them and for civilians who want to leave to prepare for evacuation.
The White House said the ceasefire was brokered by Melania Trump, whose representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define its terms. Her statement did not specify how many residents would be evacuated or when aid deliveries would begin.
“Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine,” the first lady said.
Evacuation efforts and earlier calls for a pause
Both Russian and Ukrainian officials had said the sides were close to agreeing to a ceasefire. The White House announcement followed weeks of Ukrainian efforts to arrange a civilian evacuation from Oleshky and nearby settlements.
Ukrainian forces have at times used drones to airdrop emergency food and medical supplies into the town. The new arrangement is meant to allow humanitarian aid and evacuation preparations, though the source report did not provide further operational details.
There had also been protracted efforts to secure a humanitarian ceasefire. Ukrainian officials had said Russia rejected previous calls. The Guardian reported that the announcement credited Melania Trump with brokering the agreement, while earlier public appeals had come from Pope Leo XIV, the United Nations, EU officials and the Council of Europe.
Pope Leo XIV discussed the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said on October 18 that he believed an agreement was close, without mentioning the first lady’s involvement, according to the report.
For people still in Oleshky, the terms carry immediate consequences: aid deliveries and transport depend on the agreed pause being implemented. The announcement gives no count of people seeking evacuation, and residents may choose to travel to either Russia or Ukraine.
The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on October 29.
