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Ceasefire begins in Oleshky after Melania Trump mediation

newsOct 27, 202678333

A localized ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump began in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations, the White House said. The White House statement said Melania Trump and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms, and that non-military civilian leaders from both countries would visit residents in their homes to assess needs and coordinate evacuations. The statement said the truce would begin on 29 October, while Ukraine and Russia both said their forces would stop firing at 01:00 GMT on 27 October; the statement did not specify how long the ceasefire will last. Ukraine estimates Oleshky held about 24,000 people before the 2022 invasion and that roughly 6,000 people now remain in the city and surrounding areas, including about 200 children, many of whom have faced food shortages and lack of medical care. Davyd Arakhamia, a Ukrainian MP, said an operation to unblock Oleshky and its surroundings will begin in the near future, and a Kremlin spokesman confirmed those who wish to leave will be able to do so. BBC reporting cited residents saying they had resorted to eating garden weeds and that only one hospital was partially operational, underscoring the urgent humanitarian purpose of the mission.

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