Ukraine: Relief operation started in the occupied front-line town of Oleschky

A ceasefire has been in effect in the front-line town of Oleschky, which is occupied by Russian troops, since Tuesday - and according to statements from both sides, the agreement is holding. An aid operation brokered by the USA has now begun. "We have arrived in Oleshky and are handing over several dozen tons of humanitarian aid to the residents - food, hygiene products, fuel for emergency power vehicles and other necessary things," said Russia's human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

This weekend people should be able to leave the city via a humanitarian aid corridor. Buses were provided for this purpose. The group was divided into those who want to get to Russia or areas occupied by Russian troops and those who want to get to the government-controlled part of Ukraine. “Everyone will be granted such an opportunity,” Lantratova promised in a video. According to consistent information from both sides, 25 buses with more than 750 seats were in use.

At a parliamentary hearing in Kyiv, Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyj initially announced a specific number of people who would like to be evacuated to the territory controlled by the Ukrainian government. However, he withdrew the statement a little later due to the "sensitive topic."

For the first time since the beginning of the war, a stable local ceasefire

From Tuesday to Sunday inclusive, a localized ceasefire applies to Oleshky and the surrounding area, from which the regional capital Kherson, located on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River, also benefits. This is intended to enable transport to and from Oleschky that would otherwise be prevented by drone attacks and mines. The ceasefire had already lasted more than 80 hours on Friday.

The American First Lady Melania Trump brokered the ceasefire. Pope Leo A famine catastrophe was looming in the city; Moscow and Kyiv had not been able to agree on an evacuation for a long time.