Truce begins in Ukraine city where residents ate weeds to survive

A truce has begun in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, a week after it was announced by US First Lady Melania Trump.

Ukrainian officials and Russia's defence ministry both say the limited ceasefire is being respected. The ceasefire is meant to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians, which has been planned for Friday.

Oleshky is trapped between the Dnipro River, which forms the front line in the Kherson region and separates it from Ukrainian positions, and Russian forces.

Residents still in the city are desperately short of food, with many resorting to cooking garden weeds to survive. Some told the BBC this week they are suffering extreme hunger and want to leave.

Oleshky was seized by Russia during the first days of its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The city was home to 24,000 people before the war. Now Ukraine estimates some 6,000 people remain in the city and its surrounding areas, including 200 children.

No shops are open, and the city has had no electricity, gas or water for three years.

Ukraine has attempted to deliver supplies but has not had success in recent months, and it is deemed too dangerous to risk leaving on foot along mined roads out of the city.

In response to the situation, the White House said last week that Melania Trump had secured a ceasefire in Oleshky, with no details for how long it would last.

Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram it had stopped firing toward the Ukrainian city of Kherson - across the river from Oleshky - at 04:00 Moscow time (01:00 GMT) in preparation for the humanitarian operation.

Ukraine's parliament commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, also confirmed in a social media post that the ceasefire had begun.

"As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments," he wrote on Facebook.

People in Oleshky told the BBC they want to evacuate. One woman said she is in hospital recovering from two surgeries after stepping on a land mine.

"I dont know how long I will have to spend there," she told the BBC, worried about not being able to join Friday's planned evacuation.

While people are optimistic about leaving, there are also fears that Russia may not allow them to return to Ukraine, or examine their phones and online activity for signs of Ukrainian support, which could see them be taken away and tortured.