In brief
The ceasefire that began clearing supplies into Oleshky has been extended to the wider Kherson region, giving hope to thousands trapped by Russian forces. Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV brokered the deal, with Russian commanders reportedly pausing shelling. Ukrainian officials say roads will be cleared of mines and emergency convoys will ferry residents out by Friday. The truce is seen as a possible stepping‑stone toward broader peace talks, but fears remain about safe passage and repatriation. Residents and aid workers await the first stage of the planned evacuation.
By Paul Kirby, Olga Malchevska and Dan Johnson – Updated 1 hour ago
In a rare move, the ceasefire that first aimed to bring food and medicine into the besieged city of Oleshky now blankets the entire southern Kherson region, according to local officials. The truce, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV, has halted Russian shelling on both sides of the Dnipro River and underpins an evacuation scheduled for Friday.
Thousands of residents—some 1 700 to 2 000 inside Oleshky and several thousand closer to the riverbank—have survived on garden weeds, lacking electricity and clean water since the Kakhovka Dam collapsed in 2023. Armed forces have cleared roads of mines and booby‑traps, allowing humanitarian convoys to arrive next Thursday, officials say.
While the Russian defence ministry confirms the ceasefire is in place, Ukrainian leaders see it as a “largest de‑escalation since 2022,” urging all parties to respect the truce’s terms. If the truce succeeds in freeing the people, Kyiv’s foreign minister suggests it could open doors to wider peace talks.
Still, some civilians fear they will be denied return to Ukrainian territory and risk reprisals for holding onto personal contacts with Ukrainian services. Ukrainian general staff are warning against unverified rumours about evacuation routes, urging careful coordination.
For now, the focus remains on clearing the main access roads, transporting supplies into Oleshky, and safely ferrying the trapped people out of the conflict zone.
