By Fatma Younis
A six-day ceasefire in the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky has held through its first 30 hours, officials said Wednesday, marking the first significant truce between Russia and Ukraine since the invasion began more than four years ago.
Humanitarian corridor for 2,000 residents
The localized truce, which began Tuesday and is scheduled to run until Sunday, allows a humanitarian operation to deliver food and medicine to roughly 2,000 remaining residents and evacuate those wishing to leave. Russia’s ombudsperson Yana Lantratova and Ukraine’s human rights ombudsperson Dmytro Lubinets both confirmed no ceasefire violations in Oleshky during the initial period.
Melania Trump brokers mission
The White House said U.S. First Lady Melania Trump brokered the humanitarian mission after the city’s plight in the Kherson region caught her attention. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for her role in halting fighting around Oleshky, saying humanitarian corridors are being established to evacuate civilians. “Her personal involvement is of great importance to the entire process,” Lantratova said.
Pope Leo XIV appeals for aid access
Pope Leo XIV also spoke this month with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging them to allow humanitarian aid into Oleshky and ensure the safe evacuation of civilians, the Vatican said.
Fighting persists elsewhere
Despite the truce in Oleshky, hostilities continue across other fronts. A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv overnight wounded five people, including a four-year-old child, and sparked a major fire. Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry said air defences downed 531 Ukrainian drones from late Tuesday through early Wednesday, with apartment buildings and industrial infrastructure in two Russian regions targeted, injuring five people.
