Melania Trump brokers ceasefire for Oleshky as Ukrainian city faces humanitarian crisis

A ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine for the occupied city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, has been brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.

The White House said the ceasefire is expected to take effect on October 29. The announcement comes as residents face shortages of food, drinking water and healthcare services.

According to the official statement, Oleshky, which is under Russian control and on the front line, was described as a city “on the brink of catastrophe.” So far, neither Moscow nor Kyiv has publicly responded to the ceasefire announcement.

“The remaining population of Oleshky consists mainly of elderly people who urgently need medical care, medicines, food and clean water,” the White House statement said.

The White House said Melania Trump, together with her representative, had communicated directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to establish the terms of the local agreement.

“Civilian, not military, representatives from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes and determine the level of assistance they need,” Melania Trump was quoted as saying.

She also said that people wishing to leave the city would have access to coordinated assistance and transport to a destination of their choice.

“I expect some will want to go to Russia, while others will want to go to Ukraine,” said the wife of US President Donald Trump.

Melania Trump said residents face a limited electricity supply, travel along mined roads and repeated military attacks.

“Without my intervention, bringing humanitarian aid into the city and evacuating the elderly would have been impossible,” she said.

The White House statement did not specify how long the ceasefire would last.

Last month, some of the residents remaining in Oleshky told the BBC about harsh living conditions, compounded by constant shelling and shortages of food and water.

Residents said some had resorted to eating wild plants gathered in gardens to survive. In the wider Oleshky area, children face malnutrition, a lack of healthcare and disrupted schooling. According to accounts given to the BBC, only one hospital remains partially operational, opening a few days a week for emergency procedures, including amputations.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said the local population is under a “complete blockade” imposed by Russian forces. Ukraine says it has tried to send supplies to the area, but those efforts have been unsuccessful in recent months.

In September, the Kremlin also acknowledged that Oleshky was facing a “critical situation,” particularly because of problems with food and medicines. The Russian side said the military was taking steps to address the situation, while blaming Kyiv for the problems.

Russian forces captured Oleshky, in the Kherson region, during the first days of Moscow’s full-scale offensive in February 2022. The city lies between the Dnipro River, which separates it from Ukrainian positions, and Russian forces, a situation that has isolated residents and restricted access to supplies.

The agreement announced by the White House aims to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of the most vulnerable residents, provided the parties implement it.