A localised ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia came into effect at 3am local time in the southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky, allowing a humanitarian mission to deliver food and medicine to around 2,000 stranded residents. The deal, brokered by United States First Lady Melania Trump, follows weeks of negotiations and mounting concern over the town's dire conditions.
Humanitarian deal reached after US-led talks
Ukrainian, Russian and US negotiators reached an agreement on Friday to provide humanitarian relief to Oleshky. Residents have been unable to leave because of explosive mines and drone attacks in the area, and the ceasefire is intended to allow supplies to reach those trapped.
Melania Trump initiated the talks after learning about the town's situation at one of her events during the UN General Assembly session in September. She worked with officials from both countries on the matter, according to reports.
Oleshky 'on the brink of disaster'
In a White House statement, Mrs Trump said Oleshky was "on the brink of disaster". She noted that the remaining population, mainly elderly residents, urgently need medical attention, medicine, food and clean water.
"The people of Oleshky have limited electricity, live amid mined roads, and endure regular military attacks," she said. "It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible."
Stalemate and mutual blame
Kremlin forces took control of Oleshky at the start of the invasion in February 2022, using it as a staging post to cross the Dnieper River and take the city of Kherson on the opposite bank. After Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson in November that year, Russian troops fell back over the river to Oleshky and have controlled the town since, with the two armies locked in a stalemate.
Both Russia and Ukraine blame one another for the dire situation. Ukraine has accused Russian forces of mining nearby roads and using remaining residents as human shields, while Russia has accused Ukraine of "laying siege to the town" with drone strikes and preventing humanitarian aid from getting in.
Interviews with those who have escaped the town revealed it was nearing starvation, Ukrainian media reported. Residents are relying on homegrown produce to survive, with some resorting to eating grass. The Express reported last month that bodies are being eaten by dogs in Oleshky.
In September, the Kremlin acknowledged issues with food and medical supplies getting into the town, saying its military was working to resolve them. The ceasefire follows renewed pressure from US President Donald Trump on Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reach an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, which has gone on for more than four years.
