Ceasefire activates in Oleshky to open aid corridors

Firing toward the Ukrainian city of Oleshky stopped at 04:00 Moscow time on Monday, initiating a humanitarian pause in the conflict zone. The ceasefire was formally confirmed by Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliament commissioner for human rights and head of the country’s negotiating team.

Lubinets stated on social media that the Ukrainian side is honoring its commitments to the agreement. The pause is designed to facilitate the delivery of essential supplies and the evacuation of civilians who have been isolated for years.

Oleshky sits on the south bank of the Dnipro River, directly across from the Russian-held city of Kherson. Russian forces captured the town during the first week of their full-scale invasion in February 2022. Residents found themselves trapped between Ukrainian positions to the west and Russian lines to the east, leading to severe shortages of food and other necessities.

Before the war, Oleshky had a population of 24,000. Ukrainian officials currently estimate that roughly 6,000 people remain in the city and its immediate surroundings. Among those residents are 200 children.

The White House announced last week that First Lady Melania Trump secured the truce. In a press release, she said that non-military civilian leaders from both nations would visit homes in Oleshky to assess specific assistance needs. This follows a letter she sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2025, urging him to protect children and future generations.

Russia’s defence ministry announced the firing stop on Telegram, noting it was a preparation for the humanitarian operation. The move marks the first formal cessation of hostilities in the area since the city’s capture four years ago.