In a rare break from the grinding violence of the war, a humanitarian mission moved into the shattered Ukrainian city of Oleshky today as Russia and Ukraine observed what both sides described as the most significant truce of the four-and-a-half-year conflict sparked by Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour.
A convoy of 25 buses, ambulances and aid was due to reach the Russian-occupied city, bringing food and medicine and offering evacuation for residents who want to leave for Russia or for Ukraine.
Authorities and volunteers say about 2,000 people remain in Oleshky.
The operation comes under a localised ceasefire in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region that has held for four days and is set to last through Sunday evening.
In matching statements, the two countries said: “Everyone who wishes to leave Oleshky will have the opportunity to do so safely.
“Those who choose to stay may remain and will receive all the humanitarian support they need.”
Russian and Ukrainian officials coordinated the effort side by side — an unusual instance of joint humanitarian planning in a war more often defined by battlefield escalations and stalled diplomacy.
The United States took a central part in the mission, with the White House saying the initiative was brokered by first lady Melania Trump.
Pope Leo XIV also urged the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to provide help to Oleshky.
Yet beyond Oleshky and the surrounding area, the wider conflict showed no sign of letting up.
Russia’s Defence Ministry reported that air defences shot down more than 1,000 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukraine’s air force said Russia fired ballistic and other missiles and launched scores of drones.
Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s ombudsman and the chief negotiator for the operation, said the convoy was assembled in Armyansk, a town in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine about 85km south of Oleshky.
Officials said demining along the designated routes into the city was finished late last night, adding that two people were killed during the work.
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Mr Lubinets said the evacuation would continue until 2pm local time, with aid distribution due to begin 30 minutes later.
It was not immediately clear whether he meant Ukrainian time or western Russian time, which runs one hour ahead. Officials did not publish the route evacuees would take.
Oleshky sits only a few kilometres from Ukrainian-held territory across the River Dnipro, a geographic closeness that has done little to shield residents from the realities of occupation and war.
Ksenia Arkhipova, a volunteer from Oleshky, said about 1,000 residents have told her they want to leave.
She said the presence of a Ukrainian delegation in Oleshky mattered because many residents worry Russian authorities could interrogate or detain them.
A small number of Russian, Ukrainian and US media organisations have been invited to cover the operation, authorities said.
