The White House has said Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, where a worsening humanitarian crisis has left thousands of civilians struggling to survive.
In a statement on Friday, the White House said both sides had agreed to halt all military operations in the city from 27 October to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and preparations for evacuating civilians.
Residents of the southern Ukrainian city, which has been under Russian occupation since February 2022, have described increasingly desperate conditions amid severe shortages of food, water and electricity. An estimated 2,000 people remain in the city, with some reportedly forced to survive on weeds, boiled grass, bread and meagre rations.
Both Russian and Ukrainian officials said all sides were close to agreeing to a ceasefire.
Map showing location of Oleshky
The White House statement said the ceasefire was brokered by Melania Trump, and her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms. “Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine,” the first lady said.
Despite the claim that the ceasefire had been brokered by Melania Trump, there had already been protracted efforts to organise a humanitarian ceasefire, with Ukrainian officials claiming it was Russia that had rejected previous calls.
Calls for a ceasefire had been issued by Pope Leo XIV – who discussed the issue with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy – the United Nations, EU officials and the Council of Europe. As recently as 18 October, Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, had also said he thought agreement was close without any mention of the first lady’s involvement.
Ukraine has for weeks been pushing for a civilian evacuation from Oleshky and nearby settlements, at times using drones to airdrop emergency food and medical supplies into town.
Lubinets told Reuters on Friday that the mission to Oleshky would involve demining roads leading into the town, delivering food and evacuating civilians. “A sufficient quantity of humanitarian aid will be delivered to meet the needs of everyone who requires it. What’s more, we are working to ensure that this is not just a one-off event, and that it is not limited to Oleshky alone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue to report widespread disruptions to the Starlink satellite network, despite Donald Trump’s claim that Elon Musk had lifted restrictions on the service.
The slowdown, which has affected the communications system used by Ukrainian troops, began last week after Trump and Elon Musk, the founder of Starlink, publicly criticised Zelenskyy over continued strikes on Russian oil refineries.
The restrictions have raised questions and confusion about who ordered the slowdown and why, with Trump and Musk denying responsibility. Asked about the Starlink slowdowns on Friday, Trump said he would speak to Musk if the restrictions remained in place.
“I’ve heard it was fixed, but if it’s not, I’ll speak to him,” he told reporters.
The British prime minister, Andy Burnham, “underlined the importance for Ukraine to have full access” to Starlink in a phone call with Trump on Friday, Downing Street said.
Ukrainian officials said throughout the day on Friday that speeds remained capped at about 100mph, with no indication that the restrictions had been lifted.
“At present, we have not observed any lifting of the restrictions on Starlink,” said Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert who advises Zelenskyy.
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“There have been isolated cases in which Starlink has operated at speeds slightly above the imposed limits, but this is likely due to Sp“The issue lies in SpaceX’s algorithms or specific conditions of use, rather than any lifting of the restrictions,” Beskrestnov added. The speed restrictions have prevented Ukrainian military equipment, including drones, from maintaining a connection to the satellite network at high speeds, hampering offensive drone operations and efforts to intercept incoming Russian attacks. The slowing of Starlink, combined with Zelenskyy’s complaints that Washington had temporarily suspended intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, has pushed relations between Ukraine and the US to a new low in recent days. Tensions first flared after Washington’s surprise decision to lift sanctions on Russia and begin importing Russian diesel, as Trump sought to bring down US energy prices before the midterm elections. Maritime tracking data showed the first tanker carrying Russian diesel was en route to New York on Thursday, and on Friday Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said three tankers were en route to the US and claimed Russian companies could supply 500,000 metric tonnes in October. Meanwhile, Russia launched another overnight barrage against Ukraine, even as Moscow said a fresh round of US-brokered talks aimed at ending the war could take place next month. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US were expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November. Previous rounds of negotiations have failed to produce a breakthrough, with Moscow and Kyiv far apart over the terms of any peace settlement. Among Russia’s maximalist demands are that Ukraine withdraw its forces from territory it still controls in the east of the country, drastically reduce the size of its military and adopt a neutral status that would rule out Nato membership. Speaking to a Russian state television reporter late on Thursday, Putin once again questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty, echoing claims he has repeatedly made throughout the war. “The lands lost by Kyiv are not their territory, they are Russia’s historical lands,” Putin said. The Russian president also cited unspecified genetic research to revive his longstanding claim that Russians and Ukrainians were “one people”, before insisting that Moscow would achieve all the objectives of its full-scale invasion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the scenario of a local ceasefire in Oleshky
What does local ceasefire mean in this context
It means Russia and Ukraine have agreed to stop fighting in one specific areathe city of Oleshkyrather than across the whole country
Where is Oleshky
Oleshky is a city in southern Ukraine located just across the Dnipro River from the city of Kherson
Why did they agree to a ceasefire there
Because the humanitarian situation had become critical Civilians were running out of food water and medicine and needed a safe window to evacuate or receive aid
What is a humanitarian crisis
Its a situation where a large number of people are in danger because basic needs like food clean water shelter and medical care are not available
What is a humanitarian corridor
Its a temporary safe route agreed by both sides so civilians can leave a combat zone or aid trucks can enter without being attacked
Does this mean the war is ending
No A local ceasefire is limited to one area Fighting can continue elsewhere and the truce can collapse at any time
Who monitors the ceasefire
Typically international organizations like the UN or the Red Cross though monitoring is often difficult and limited in active war zones
What happens if the ceasefire is broken
The agreement could collapse aid deliveries could stop and civilians could be trapped again Both sides usually blame each other for violations
Why are local ceasefires so hard to maintain
Because trust is low communication is poor and a single incidenta stray shell or a misunderstandingcan restart the fighting
What can civilians do during a ceasefire window
Evacuate if possible stock up on essentials reach shelters or access medical care Aid groups use the time to deliver supplies
How long do these ceasefires usually last
Often just hours or a few dayswhatever both sides agree to They are usually short and renewed only if both parties cooperate
Whats the difference between a local ceasefire and a humanitarian pause
A humanitarian pause is a short temporary stop in fighting purely to allow aid through A local ceasefire is a broader agreement to halt combat in a defined area sometimes for longer
What are the biggest risks of relying on a local ceasefire
It can fail suddenly give a false
