Firing stops in Oleshky as aid teams prepare

Russian forces halted their bombardment of the Ukrainian city of Oleshky at 4:00 a.m. Moscow time on Monday. The cessation of fire marks the start of a truce announced one week earlier by US First Lady Melania Trump. The agreement is designed to facilitate humanitarian operations, specifically the delivery of essential supplies and the evacuation of civilians trapped in the occupied territory.

Russia's defense ministry confirmed on its Telegram channel that it stopped firing toward the Ukrainian city of Kherson, located across the Dnipro River from Oleshky. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary commissioner for human rights, verified the start of the ceasefire in a social media post. Lubinets stated that the Ukrainian side was honoring its commitments as the head of the country's negotiating team.

The Dnipro River acts as the front line in the Kherson region, with Oleshky situated on the south bank. For years, residents in the city have faced severe shortages of food and other basic necessities. Ukraine estimates that roughly 6,000 people, including 200 children, currently remain in the city and surrounding areas. This population is down from 24,000 before the conflict began in February 2022.

The White House previously stated that the First Lady secured the agreement. In a press release, Trump said that civilian leaders from both nations would visit residents in their homes to assess their specific needs. She has taken on a role in addressing humanitarian issues related to the war, including a letter to Vladimir Putin in August 2025 urging him to protect children and future generations.