Ceasefire begins in occupied Ukrainian city of Olesky to allow aid and evacuations

A limited ceasefire has begun in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Olesky, where thousands of civilians have been cut off without reliable access to food, water or electricity. Ukrainian officials and Russia’s defence ministry said the pause in fighting was being observed, with the aim of enabling aid deliveries and civilian evacuations on Friday.

The White House said the ceasefire was arranged with the involvement of US first lady Melania Trump. It said the humanitarian pause was intended to allow supplies into the city and make it possible for residents to leave safely. The duration of the ceasefire has not been made public.

Olesky lies in the Kherson region, close to the front line. The Dnipro River separates it from Ukrainian-held positions, while Russian forces surround it from the other side. Before the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022, the city had about 24,000 residents. Ukrainian estimates suggest around 6,000 people, including 200 children, remain in and around Olesky.

Conditions in the city have become desperate. No shops are operating, and residents have been without electricity, gas or running water for three years. Some people have said they survived by cooking weeds found in gardens. Residents described severe hunger and said they wanted to leave, though many fear the ceasefire may not last. One resident said: “I do not believe in Russia’s humanity.”

Ukraine has tried to get supplies into Olesky, but officials say those efforts have failed in recent months. Leaving on foot has also been judged too dangerous because roads out of the city are mined. The ceasefire is expected to allow aid to arrive and demining work to begin so civilians can be evacuated more safely.

Several questions remain unresolved, including how residents can register for evacuation and where they would go. Some want to know whether they can take pets with them, while others are worried about what will happen if they abandon their homes. There are also fears that Russian forces could prevent people from returning to Ukrainian-controlled territory or inspect phones and online activity for pro-Ukrainian views.

Communication with people in Olesky is difficult because connections are unreliable, and some residents are reluctant to speak openly for fear of Russian reprisals. One woman recovering in hospital after two operations, having stepped on a mine, said she was unsure whether she would be able to join the planned evacuation. “I do not know how much longer I will have to stay there,” she said.

The Kremlin said last month that the situation in Olesky was “critical” and acknowledged “problems with food and medicine supplies”, while blaming Kyiv and saying the Russian army was working to resolve the difficulties. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed the ceasefire had begun and wrote on Facebook: “As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its obligations.”