US-brokered truce begins in Oleshky

A US-brokered ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia went into effect in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid. The truce, announced by US First Lady Melania Trump last week, began at 3:00 am local time (0100 GMT). Oleshky, located in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, has been under Russian control since 2022, when it was seized during the initial stages of Russia's invasion.

Former residents reported dire conditions in the city, with starvation, lack of medicine, and inability to easily leave. Three-way peace talks between Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv are scheduled to resume in November after a prolonged pause. Neither Russia, Ukraine, nor the United States has disclosed monitoring details for the truce or specifics of the accompanying humanitarian operation.

Melania Trump mentioned that civilian officials from both sides would visit residents at home to assess their needs, allowing those who wish to evacuate to receive coordinated support and transportation to their chosen destination. Russia confirmed it would halt fire in the Kherson sector during the ceasefire, while Ukraine accused Russia of preventing residents from leaving, a claim Russia denied.

The city, situated on the southern bank of the Dnipro River, has witnessed a significant population decline from around 24,000 before the invasion to roughly 2,000, including up to 50 children. The ongoing conflict, now in its fifth year, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and millions displaced, making it Europe's deadliest since World War II.