Four-hour truce begins in Oleshky as 6,000 residents await aid

A four-hour ceasefire took effect at 04:00 Moscow time on Monday, halting Russian shelling toward the Ukrainian city of Oleshky. Russia's defense ministry announced the start of the humanitarian operation via Telegram, marking the first pause in fighting in the area since the war began.

The truce is designed to facilitate the delivery of food and essential supplies to a population that has faced severe shortages. It also allows for the evacuation of civilians from the city on the south bank of the Dnipro River. Ukraine's parliament commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed the agreement on social media, stating that the Ukrainian side was honoring its commitments.

Oleshky, which was captured by Russian forces in February 2022, now holds an estimated 6,000 residents, including 200 children. This is a sharp decline from the pre-war population of 24,000. Residents have been trapped between Ukrainian positions across the river and Russian forces to the east, leading to a critical lack of resources.

The White House stated last week that Melania Trump secured the arrangement. In a press release, she said that civilian leaders from both nations would visit residents' homes to assess their needs. Trump has focused on humanitarian aspects of the conflict since writing a letter to President Vladimir Putin in August 2025 urging him to protect children.