A localized ceasefire brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump took effect early Tuesday in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine, opening the way for an aid mission and the evacuation of civilians.1,2,3,4
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, said in a social media post that the truce began at 3 a.m. Kyiv time, or 4 a.m. Moscow time. "A ceasefire came into effect today at 3 a.m. Kyiv time (4 a.m. Moscow time) in designated areas related to the humanitarian mission," he said. The start time was also given as 0100 GMT, and the pause is meant to allow aid into the city later this week.2,3,4
The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces had stopped fighting in the area to prepare for the humanitarian mission. Lubinets said Ukraine was observing the agreement. "As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honoring its commitments," he said, adding that the agreements had been reached in negotiations with Yana Lantratova, head of the Russian negotiating team.2,3,4
It could not be independently verified whether fighting had decreased, and international media have limited access to Oleshky, which makes conditions there difficult to assess. The town had a pre-war population of 24,000 people and lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, across from the Ukrainian-held city of Kherson.3,4
Russian troops seized Oleshky during the first days of the February 2022 invasion and have controlled it ever since. The town suffered further damage when the Kakhovka dam collapsed in June 2023, causing widespread flooding.3,4
Up to 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, according to the United Nations, which said they have been unable to leave because of explosive mines and drone attacks in the area. Ukrainian and US estimates put the number at around 2,000, including up to 50 children.3,4
The United Nations says residents face severe shortages of food and medicine. Ukraine has accused Russia of preventing residents from leaving, an allegation Moscow denies. Former residents told the news agency AFP earlier this year that people remaining in the town were starving, sometimes hunting pigeons or surviving on food grown in their gardens. "They've forgotten what bread is. You need flour for bread, and there's not even flour left," said Olga, who was in contact with two families still in Oleshky.3,4
The White House said last week that Melania Trump had helped secure the agreement after holding talks with civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine, and her office said she had met United Nations officials who briefed her on conditions in Oleshky. The agreement was announced on October 23, with the additional involvement of Pope Leo. "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," Melania Trump said.2,3,4
Negotiators involved in the aid mission said doctors, medicines, food supplies and water would be taken to Oleshky before evacuation corridors are opened. Neither side has provided details about who will monitor the ceasefire.3,4
Russian missile attacks continued elsewhere in Ukraine as the localized ceasefire began. Explosions shook Kyiv shortly after 3 a.m. local time, according to witnesses, and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attacks had damaged the Southern Bridge and associated subway infrastructure. City authorities said traffic on the bridge had been suspended. On Monday, a Russian missile attack on Kyiv killed at least one person and injured 10 others, including students at a dormitory. Further attacks caused casualties in Kharkiv and Pavlohrad. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote after the attacks: "It is important that the world sees that Russia is showing nothing but a desire to kill and continue waging war."4
The truce comes ahead of another round of US-mediated peace talks between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv, expected in November. Negotiations have been effectively frozen since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in February, and the last trilateral talks, in Geneva in February 2026, ended without a breakthrough. Washington is seeking to revive talks after more than four and a half years of fighting, a conflict in which hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed and millions have been forced to flee their homes.3,4
Previous attempts to establish ceasefires have repeatedly failed amid deep mistrust between Russia and Ukraine. The pause in Oleshky is due to last through Saturday or longer, and the aid mission is expected to reach the town later this week.2,3,4
