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US Announces Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Deal for Civilian Evacuations in Temporarily Occupied Oleshky
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US First Lady Melania Trump secured an agreement between Ukraine and Russia for a localized ceasefire in Oleshky, Kherson region, scheduled to begin October 29.
The White House announced the agreement on October 23, stating that both countries had agreed to temporarily suspend military operations in the city to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations through a designated safe corridor.
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However, Ukraine has not officially confirmed the ceasefire agreement announced by the White House. On October 23, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets indicated that negotiations with Russia over civilian evacuations from Oleshky were still underway, although they were nearing completion.
"The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster," Melania Trump stated. She emphasized that the remaining residents, predominantly elderly people, urgently need food, clean water, medicine, and medical assistance.
According to the White House, Melania Trump and her representative negotiated directly with Ukrainian and Russian leadership, coordinating the agreement's timing, technical procedures, and implementation. The first lady acted as an "Exclusive Intermediary" between the two sides.
Under the arrangement, civilian representatives from both countries will visit residents in their homes to assess their humanitarian needs. Those wishing to evacuate will receive transportation and assistance in reaching their preferred destinations, whether in Ukrainian-controlled territory or Russia.
Melania Trump also announced that an independent American media organization would accompany the Ukrainian and Russian teams to document the evacuation process and help ensure residents' preferences are respected.
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The agreement includes coordination on demining operations, as roads around Oleshky remain contaminated with explosives. The White House did not specify how long the ceasefire would last or how compliance with the temporary suspension of hostilities would be monitored.
Oleshky lies on the temporarily Russian-occupied eastern bank of the Dnipro River, opposite the city of Kherson. Before Russia's full-scale invasion, approximately 24,000 people lived there.
The White House estimates that between 1,700 and 2,000 residents remain, primarily elderly civilians, alongside approximately 50 children. No comprehensive population census has been conducted since 2022.
The city also suffered extensive destruction following the collapse of the Kakhovka Dam in June 2023, when approximately 90% of its territory was flooded, according to the White House.
The ceasefire agreement builds on earlier humanitarian contacts established by Melania Trump's office to reunite Ukrainian children separated from their families during Russia's invasion.
On April 2, 2026, the White House announced arrangements for seven Ukrainian children taken by Russia to return home. On July 30, she facilitated another reunion, helping five children return to their families in the fifth such operation. Her office maintained direct communication with Ukrainian and Russian officials throughout these efforts, establishing channels later used in the Oleshky ceasefire negotiations.
The agreement capped weeks of diplomatic pressure over the humanitarian crisis in the temporarily occupied city. On October 16, Pope Leo XIV urged the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, in a phone call to accept a ceasefire around Oleshky so food and medical aid could reach civilians.
By October 19, Kyiv and Moscow were moving to finalize an evacuation from Oleshky and six nearby settlements, where around 6,000 civilians, including up to 200 children, were believed to remain.
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