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Ukraine and Russia Launch Aid Operation in Oleshky
Confirmed
In Short: Ukraine and Russia have launched a coordinated humanitarian operation to deliver aid and evacuate civilians from Russian-occupied Oleshky.
Ukraine and Russia have launched a coordinated humanitarian operation to deliver food, medical supplies, and other essentials to residents of Russian-occupied Oleshky in southern Ukraine, while offering civilians the opportunity to evacuate.
Residents who chose to leave Oleshky are now on their way to Ukraine and Russia, according to Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, on Friday evening, Oct. 30.
The ceasefire has now lasted 87 hours, Lubinets said, adding that evacuation and distribution of humanitarian aid have begun.
The operation is being coordinated by the two countries’ human rights commissioners, with mediation and coordination from US First Lady Melania Trump.
Arakhamia reported that the Ukrainian delegation, accompanied by evacuated residents of Oleshky, was heading to Anapa.
About 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, according to authorities and volunteers.
Under a local ceasefire brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, an aid convoy arrived in the town of Oleshky and people were given the opportunity to leave.
Despite the so-called truce, Russia has continued to conduct attacks on Ukraine's energy grid, leaving 600,000 people without electricity.
Russian troops seized Oleshky during the first days of their February 2022 invasion and have controlled it ever since.
The White House statement came earlier in the day, saying the ceasefire is localized to the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky and would begin Oct. 29 to allow humanitarian aid in and prepare for civilian evacuations.
The ceasefire should enable deliveries of aid as well as evacuations from the frontline town in southern Ukraine that is grappling with acute shortages of food and medicine.
As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, Dmytro Lubinets confirmed that the Ukrainian side is honoring its commitments.
What this adds
The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on October 29, with both sides agreeing to temporarily suspend military operations in the southern Ukrainian city to allow humanitarian assistance to enter and establish a safe passage for residents seeking to leave.
The General Staff later confirmed that Ukraine's Defense Forces would carry out all orders regarding the mission in Oleshky, with the expectation of guaranteed access to the city.
Background
A truce began in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky on Tuesday, aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations.
The humanitarian situation in Oleshky has been dire, with residents facing severe shortages of food and medicine.
What's confirmed
- Washington (TDI): Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary, localised ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations, following diplomatic efforts led by US First Lady Melania Trump, the White House announced on Friday.
- Fri, Oct 30, 2026 | Jumada al-Awwal 18, 1448 | Fajr 05:07 | DXB 30.3 °C US first lady Melania Trump has secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky, which will begin next Thursday, the White House said on Friday.
- Russia and Ukraine have started a localized ceasefire to allow for a humanitarian operation to begin in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, both sides said on Tuesday.
- Russian troops seized Oleshky during the first days of their February 2022 invasion and have controlled it ever since.
What's still developing
- Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press Hanna Arhirova, Associated Press KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — A humanitarian mission entered the devastated city of Oleshky on Friday, officials said, as Russia and Ukraine observed the most significant truce of the 4½-year war that began with Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor.
- Although it was a striking example of cooperation between the warring sides, the Kremlin described it as a special case that was “difficult to extrapolate” to the wider search for a peace settlement.
- The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on October 29, with both sides agreeing to temporarily suspend military operations in the southern Ukrainian city to allow humanitarian assistance to enter and establish a safe passage for residents seeking to leave.
- "We are grateful that even during this difficult time for him personally, His Holiness remembers Ukraine and prays for our people," Zelenskyy said.
- The chief of staff of Russian forces, Valery Gerasimov, said on the Defence Ministry's Telegram channel that Russian troops would halt fire from 4am local time (0100 GMT) on Tuesday to allow for the humanitarian operation to start.
- “These are deliberate strikes against civilians, brazen in their cruelty, and the Russians are carrying them out right as the humanitarian operation in Oleshky is unfolding,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an X post Thursday afternoon.
- Kyiv time, on October 27, to carry out a humanitarian operation in the temporarily occupied city, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
- The General Staff later confirmed that Ukraine's Defense Forces would carry out all orders regarding the mission in Oleshky, with the expectation of guaranteed access to the city.
- Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had stopped shelling in the Kherson sector to prepare for the humanitarian operation.
Sources
- Kyiv Postlink
- PBSlink
- South China Morning Postlink
- Thediplomaticinsightlink
- Angelusnewslink
- Khaleejtimeslink
- Jpostlink
- Kvialink
- Rawstorylink
- Warpbeatlink
- Newsukrainelink
- DWlink
- RTE.ielink
- Cruxnowlink
- WarpBeat — background on Truce Begins in Oleshky to Facilitate Aid and Evacuations link
- WarpBeat — background on Truce Begins in Oleshky Amid Humanitarian Crisis link
- FRANCE 24 English — video link