Russia has suspended strikes on the Ukrainian province of Kherson as a localised ceasefire takes effect ahead of a humanitarian mission led by the United States’ First Lady Melania Trump.
The pause in fighting started at 01:00 GMT on Tuesday, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, to allow for an aid mission into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Kherson later this week. The mission will enable aid deliveries and allow evacuations from the front-line town, which is suffering acute shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies.
Brokered Agreement and UN Assessment
The agreement was announced on October 23 and brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, with the additional involvement of Pope Leo, as Washington seeks to revive peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv after more than four and a half years of fighting. Up to 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, having been unable to leave because of explosive mines and drone attacks in the area, according to the United Nations.
Matthias Schmale, the UN’s resident and humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, told Al Jazeera that civilians were trapped in the town without a guaranteed safe exit route. The assessment was based on interviews UN human rights monitors conducted with residents who had managed to get out at great risk, as well as on information from credible civil society organisations.
Schmale stated they hope the announced ceasefire focused on Oleshky will bring the much-needed relief to their situation and allow both humanitarian aid to reach them as well as enable those who want to leave to do so safely.
Background and Ceasefire Details
The town, which had a pre-war population of 24,000 people, lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in the partially occupied Kherson region, opposite Kherson city, which is held by Ukrainian forces. Russian troops seized Oleshky during the first days of their February 2022 invasion and have controlled it ever since. Oleshky has suffered extensive war damage and was hit hard by flooding after the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka Dam in 2023.
The localised ceasefire is due to last through Saturday, or longer, amid deep mistrust between Russia and Ukraine that has thwarted previous attempts at ceasefires. Negotiators involved in the aid mission stated that doctors, medicines, food supplies and water would be taken to Oleshky before evacuation corridors are opened.
