A temporary ceasefire around the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky is scheduled to begin on October 27, offering a potential opening for humanitarian deliveries and civilian evacuations after prolonged shortages.
Russia and Ukraine announced the agreement on Friday. The arrangement is intended to allow aid to enter and residents to leave through humanitarian corridors.
Oleshky lies in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. It has been under Russian occupation since the early stages of the 2022 invasion and suffered further devastation from flooding after the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in 2023.
For civilians who have endured the town’s deteriorating conditions, the announcement brings uncertainty as well as hope. Vitaly, a former resident who escaped with his family in September, told Reuters he doubted whether the ceasefire would hold. His family’s departure followed dwindling food supplies and increasingly dangerous travel conditions.
Tensions persisted ahead of the planned pause. Russia’s Defence Ministry accused Ukrainian forces of attacks that disrupted supply routes, allegations Reuters could not independently verify. Ukraine had not immediately responded to the latest accusations and has previously accused Russia of obstructing humanitarian access and civilian departures.
