Oleshky truce: Four-hour pause begins

A four-hour ceasefire began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky on Monday morning. The pause in fighting is designed to allow humanitarian aid to reach residents and to facilitate the evacuation of civilians from the area.

The agreement was announced last week by US First Lady Melania Trump. She stated that non-military leaders from both countries would visit residents to assess their needs. Russia's defense ministry confirmed via Telegram that it stopped firing toward Kherson at 04:00 Moscow time, or 01:00 GMT, to prepare for the operation.

Ukraine's human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets verified the start of the truce on social media. He wrote, "As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments." This marks the first major humanitarian pause in the city since it was seized by Russian forces in the early days of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Oleshky sits on the south bank of the Dnipro River, which serves as the front line in the Kherson region. Residents have faced severe shortages of food and essential supplies due to their position between Ukrainian positions across the river and Russian forces to the east. Before the war, the city was home to 24,000 people.

Current estimates indicate that approximately 6,000 people remain in the city and its surrounding areas, including 200 children. The White House confirmed last week that the First Lady secured the deal. In August 2025, she sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin urging him to protect children and future generations worldwide.

The immediate goal of this pause is to bridge the gap created by the front line. Aid teams will move into the zone during the four-hour window to distribute supplies and coordinate the departure of those wishing to leave the occupied territory.