Russia and Ukraine agree to local ceasefire in Oleshky amid deepening humanitarian crisis

The White House has said that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, where a deepening humanitarian crisis has left thousands of civilians struggling to survive, The Guardian reported.

In a statement on Friday, the White House said both sides had agreed to halt all military operations in the city from 27 October to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and preparations for the evacuation of civilians.

Residents of the southern Ukrainian city, which has been under Russian occupation since February 2022, have described increasingly desperate conditions amid severe shortages of food, water and electricity. An estimated 2,000 people remain in the city, with some reportedly forced to survive on weeds, boiled grass, bread and meagre rations.

Both Russian and Ukrainian officials said all sides were close to agreeing to a ceasefire.

The White House statement said the ceasefire was brokered by Melania Trump, and her representative worked directly with ​Russian and Ukrainian ‌leadership to define the ​terms. “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,” the first lady said.

Despite the claim the ceasefire had been brokered by Melania Trump, there had already been protracted efforts to organise a humanitarian ceasefire, with claims by Ukrainian officials that it had been Russia that had rejected previous calls.

Calls for a ceasefire had been issued by Pope Leo XIV – who discussed the issue with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy – the United Nations, EU officials and the Council of Europe. As recently as 18 October, Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, had also said he thought agreement was close without any mention of the first lady’s involvement.

Ukraine has for weeks been pushing for a civilian evacuation from Oleshky and nearby settlements, at times using drones to airdrop emergency food and medical supplies into town.

Lubinets ⁠told Reuters on Friday that the mission to Oleshky would involve ⁠demining roads leading into the town, delivering food and evacuating civilians. “A sufficient ​quantity of ‌humanitarian ‌aid will be delivered to ‌meet the needs of everyone who requires it. What’s more, we are working to ensure ‌that this is not just a ​one-off event, and that it is not limited to Oleshky alone,” ⁠he said.