In brief
White House officials claim that First Lady Melania Trump achieved a ceasefire in Oleshky, a city in Ukraine’s Kherson region that has been under Russian occupation since early 2022. The truce is scheduled to begin on 29 October, amid reports of dire humanitarian conditions for the city’s mainly elderly residents. Although the ceasefire announcement has not been confirmed by Ukraine or Russia, residents are said to be in urgent need of medical care, food, clean water and seeking shelter. The move comes at a critical moment for civilians caught in the front‑line conflict.
By Jaroslav Lukiv | 8 min ago
US First Lady Melania Trump has "successfully secured" a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, the White House has said.
The statement said the truce in the "front-line war city on the brink of disaster" would begin on 29 October, though Ukraine and Russia have so far not commented.
"Oleshky's remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water," the White House said.
Oleshky, in the Kherson region, was seized by Russian forces during the first days of Moscow's full‑scale invasion in February 2022. Remaining residents have recently resorted to eating garden weeds to survive.
For more on this story, read Eating garden weeds to survive in Russian‑occupied city cut off from food and water (24 September).
