Russia and Ukraine Begin Local Ceasefire for Humanitarian Operation in Oleshky

Russia and Ukraine have begun a localized ceasefire around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine, and both governments confirmed the arrangement on Tuesday. The pause is meant to allow a humanitarian operation in a town suffering acute shortages of food and medicine.

Russia's defense ministry said on Telegram that it halted shelling in the direction of the Ukrainian city of Kherson from 4 a.m. Moscow time (0100 GMT). The ministry said the stoppage was to prepare for the humanitarian operation in Oleshky, which sits just across the Dnipro River from Kherson.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's parliament commissioner for human rights, confirmed in a Facebook post that the ceasefire started at the same hour. "As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honoring its commitments," he wrote.

The arrangement is expected to enable aid deliveries and make evacuations possible from the frontline town. Oleshky lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro in the southern region of Kherson, opposite the city of Kherson, which is held by Ukrainian forces.

Russian troops seized Oleshky during the first days of their invasion in February 2022 and have controlled it ever since. The White House said last week that US first lady Melania Trump helped to secure the ceasefire for Oleshky.

The localized truce comes as fighting continues elsewhere in the country. A Russian missile attack on the capital, Kyiv, on Monday killed at least one person and injured 10, including students at a dormitory. The attacks also killed and injured people in the cities of Kharkiv and Pavlohrad.

New explosions were heard in Kyiv on Tuesday morning, according to a Reuters witness.