Ukraine and Russia begin Oleshky ceasefire for aid mission

Russia and Ukraine began a localized ceasefire early Tuesday to allow humanitarian aid into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine.

Both sides confirmed that the truce took effect at 3 a.m. local time (0100 GMT), following an agreement brokered by US first lady Melania Trump.

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had stopped shelling in the Kherson sector to prepare for the humanitarian operation.

Ukraine's human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets also confirmed that Kyiv was observing the agreement.

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

However, it could not be independently verified whether fighting had decreased.

What is the humanitarian situation in Oleshky?

Around 2,000 people, including up to 50 children, remain trapped in Oleshky, according to Ukrainian and US estimates. The town had about 24,000 residents before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The United Nations says residents face severe shortages of food and medicine. Mines and drone attacks have made it difficult for them to leave.

Former residents told news agency AFP earlier this year that people remaining in the town were starving, sometimes hunting pigeons or surviving on food grown in their gardens.

"They've forgotten what bread is. You need flour for bread, and there's not even flour left," said Olga, who was in contact with two families still in Oleshky.

Oleshky lies across the Dnipro River from the Ukrainian-controlled city of Kherson.

Russian troops captured the town during the first days of the invasion in 2022. It suffered further destruction in June 2023 when the collapse of the Kakhovka dam caused widespread flooding.

What role did Melania Trump play in the ceasefire?

The White House said last week that Melania Trump had helped secure the agreement after holding talks with civilian negotiators from Russia and Ukraine.

Her office said the first lady had also met United Nations officials who briefed her on conditions in Oleshky.

Announcing the agreement on Friday, Trump said civilian officials from both countries would visit residents to assess their needs.

Doctors, food, drinking water and medicine are expected to reach the town before evacuation corridors are opened.

"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," Melania Trump said.

Ukraine has accused Russia of preventing residents from leaving, an allegation Moscow denies.

Neither side has provided details about who will monitor the ceasefire. Reports have also differed over its duration, with one account saying it could last through Saturday.

What happened in Kyiv after the ceasefire began?

Russian missile attacks continued elsewhere in Ukraine as the localized ceasefire began.

Explosions shook Kyiv shortly after 3 a.m. local time Tuesday, according to witnesses, while air raid alerts sounded across several regions.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attacks had damaged the Southern Bridge and associated subway infrastructure. City authorities said traffic on the bridge had been suspended.

On Monday, a Russian missile attack on Kyiv killed at least one person and injured 10 others, including students at a dormitory. Further attacks caused casualties in Kharkiv and Pavlohrad.

"It is important that the world sees that Russia is showing nothing but a desire to kill and continue waging war," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote after the attacks.

Could the Oleshky ceasefire help revive Ukraine peace talks?

The limited truce in Oleshky comes ahead of another round of US-mediated peace talks between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv, expected in November.

Negotiations have been effectively frozen since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in February.

Previous attempts to establish ceasefires have repeatedly failed amid deep mistrust between Russia and Ukraine.

More than four and a half years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed, while millions have been forced to flee their homes.