Truce begins in Ukraine’s Oleshky after residents ate weeds to survive

A localized ceasefire has begun in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, opening a potential route for humanitarian supplies and civilian evacuations after shortages left residents eating weeds to survive. The BBC reported that the pause is intended to let aid enter and people leave.

The White House credited US First Lady Melania Trump with securing the agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Its announcement described a temporary halt to military action in Oleshky, rather than a wider ceasefire across the country, with a designated passageway intended to support the evacuation effort.

The BBC’s reporting on residents surviving on garden weeds highlighted the severity of the food crisis. Its coverage also described shortages of medicine and clean water, making the humanitarian operation about both restoring access to essentials and helping people who no longer wish to remain.

Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, as well as both countries’ militaries, separately confirmed that the ceasefire had begun, according to the Associated Press. The agency reported that the pause was intended to support an aid mission later in the week, meaning its start did not itself establish that supplies had reached residents.

Oleshky lies in southern Ukraine’s Kherson region, near the Dnipro River separating opposing forces. According to the White House, the city’s remaining population consists mainly of older residents. Its population estimates are uncertain because no formal demographic count has taken place there since 2022.

The proposed operation includes visits to residents’ homes to establish what assistance they need, the White House said. People choosing to evacuate would receive coordinated transport to their preferred destination, according to the announcement, which presented departure as voluntary rather than a requirement for receiving assistance.

The practical risks extend beyond whether shooting stops. The Associated Press reported that mines and drone attacks have restricted movement around the city. A pause in fighting therefore creates an opportunity for relief, but safe access for humanitarian vehicles and civilians remains central to carrying out the mission.

The agreement also follows earlier humanitarian appeals. According to the Associated Press, Pope Leo XIV urged the Russian and Ukrainian presidents to permit aid deliveries and safe civilian evacuations. His involvement places the local truce within a broader effort to secure access to people trapped near the front line.

For residents, the immediate significance is narrower than the wider diplomatic question of ending the war: whether food and medical assistance can arrive, and whether those seeking safety can leave. The arrangement should not be read as evidence that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to stop fighting elsewhere.

The next test is implementation. Confirmation that the truce has started is distinct from confirmation that aid has been delivered or evacuations completed. The operation’s humanitarian outcome will depend on sustained safe passage, access to residents and the ability to carry out their decisions about leaving.