Oleshky truce starts after week

The four-hour ceasefire in Oleshky took effect at 04:00 Moscow time on Tuesday. Russia’s defense ministry confirmed via Telegram that firing toward Kherson stopped to begin the humanitarian operation. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, verified the start of the truce on social media. He stated that the Ukrainian side is honoring its commitments as the lead negotiator.

The pause in hostilities aims to deliver food and other essential supplies to residents. It also allows for the evacuation of civilians. Oleshky, located on the south bank of the Dnipro River, has been under Russian occupation since February 2022. The city sits on the front line in the Kherson region. Residents have faced severe shortages of basic necessities while trapped between Ukrainian positions across the river and Russian forces to the east.

Before the war, Oleshky was home to 24,000 people. Ukrainian estimates indicate that roughly 6,000 residents remain in the city and its surrounding areas. This group includes 200 children. The White House announced last week that First Lady Melania Trump secured the agreement. In a press release, she said non-military civilian leaders from both countries would visit residents in their homes. They will determine the specific level of assistance required.

Trump has become involved in addressing humanitarian issues related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In August 2025, she sent a letter to President Vladimir Putin. She wrote that it was time to protect children and future generations worldwide. The current truce marks the first major implementation of her diplomatic efforts in the Kherson region.