A localized ceasefire began at 03:00 Kyiv time on Tuesday in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast, allowing a humanitarian mission to proceed. Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, and Russia’s Defence Ministry confirmed the “silence regime” had taken effect, with Lubinets stating both sides were adhering to agreements reached with Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Yana Lantratova.
The truce was brokered through the mediation of US First Lady Melania Trump, who announced last Friday that civilian officials from Russia and Ukraine would assess residents’ needs. Up to 2,000 people remain stranded in Oleshky, facing shortages of food and medicine, with roads mined and drone attacks hindering movement, according to the UN and Ukrainian officials.
Lubinets confirmed the ceasefire was part of a joint humanitarian operation with Lantratova, coordinated by Trump. Russia’s Defence Ministry stated it had ceased fire on the Kherson front from 04:00 Moscow time to prepare for the operation. Marc Beckman, a senior advisor to Trump, told Ukrinform that Russia had assured Ukraine and the US it would respect residents’ evacuation choices, with safeguards in place to protect their preferences.
The humanitarian mission is planned for 29 October, with civilian teams from both sides set to enter Oleshky to deliver aid and assist evacuations. Beckman said the date was chosen after technical and logistical issues were resolved with Ukrainian and Russian leadership. He added that the ceasefire could be extended if both sides deem it necessary for aid delivery and evacuation preparations.
Ukrainian and Russian military and government officials have confirmed the ceasefire’s start, with Lubinets pledging to keep the public informed while prioritizing civilian safety. The White House previously stated that Trump had secured the truce to address the humanitarian crisis in Oleshky, where residents have been cut off from supplies since the town’s occupation in 2022.
