Oleshky Ceasefire Begins Amid Severe Supply Crisis

The humanitarian pause in Oleshky started at 01:00 GMT on Monday morning.

Russia's defense ministry announced via Telegram that it would cease fire toward Kherson, the city located across the river from Oleshky. The stop in shelling was intended to prepare the area for a humanitarian operation. Ukrainian human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets confirmed the start of the truce on social media. He stated that his team was honoring its commitments as the head of the Ukrainian negotiating group.

The agreement was announced by US First Lady Melania Trump one week prior. Her goal is to facilitate the delivery of supplies and the evacuation of civilians. The White House noted that civilian leaders from both nations would visit residents' homes to assess their specific needs. Trump issued a press release stating this would help determine the level of assistance required for the population.

Oleshky sits on the south bank of the Dnipro River, which marks the front line in the Kherson region. Russian forces captured the city during the initial days of the invasion in February 2022. Residents have been isolated between Ukrainian positions across the water and Russian troops to the east. This geography has left the population short of food and other essential goods.

Before the war, the city was home to 24,000 people. Ukraine currently estimates that roughly 6,000 people remain in the city and its surrounding areas. This group includes 200 children. Trump has focused on humanitarian aspects of the conflict recently. In August 2025, she wrote to Vladimir Putin urging him to protect children and future generations.