A ceasefire in Ukraine's Russian-occupied Kherson region, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV, began early Tuesday and has expanded beyond the city of Oleshky to cover a wider area, according to regional officials.
The truce aims to allow humanitarian aid into Oleshky and enable evacuations planned for Friday. An estimated 1,700 to 2,000 people remain in Oleshky itself, with a few thousand more in surrounding areas. The city has had no electricity, gas or water since the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed in 2023.
Both sides reported the ceasefire was holding. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said operations proceeded "according to plan" and credited US mediation. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said results could "pave the way for other steps in the peace process."
According to David Arakhamia, a senior official in President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary party, the ceasefire will continue until 22:59 Ukrainian time on Sunday 1 November and described it as the "largest de-escalation since 2022."
Russia's defence ministry stated its units were conducting "engineering reconnaissance" and clearing access roads of mines. About 500 residents had expressed interest in evacuation by Tuesday afternoon, though many are wary of providing names and addresses to officials.
Zelensky warned that demined routes established by Russia would lead civilians toward Russia rather than Ukrainian-controlled territory. Some residents fear Russia will not allow them to return to Ukraine or that authorities will examine their phones for signs of Ukrainian support.