Oleshky Ceasefire: Aid Convoys Prepare for Entry

Humanitarian aid is scheduled to enter the city of Oleshky on Friday, according to Ukrainian officials.

The delivery follows a localized ceasefire that has remained in effect since Tuesday. This arrangement is part of a planned six-day truce designed to allow food and medical supplies to reach approximately 2,000 civilians trapped in the Russian-occupied area. Both Moscow and Kyiv have maintained the silence despite the ongoing war that has persisted since Russia’s invasion more than four and a half years ago.

The path to this agreement was marked by previous failures. Past efforts to secure temporary truces often collapsed quickly or failed to materialize entirely. The current deal, described by Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova as a project five months in the making, was facilitated in part by the efforts of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump. Pope Leo XIV also advocated for a pause in hostilities.

Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets confirmed on Thursday that the ceasefire had held for 54 hours. "The parties are fully adhering to the agreements, and no violations of the ceasefire have been reported," Lubinets stated. He added that aid deliveries were due to begin the following day. Lantratova corroborated these findings, noting that Russian engineers are actively clearing Oleshky roads of mines. "This allows military personnel to continue clearing roads of mines and to prepare a safe passage for the humanitarian convoy," she said.

Lubanets is traveling from Belarus to Oleshky, while Lantratova’s team is en route from the Russian side. Local residents will also have the option to evacuate into either country, though the specific logistical details for this process remain undefined.

The temporary silence has altered daily life in Kherson, a nearby city held by Ukraine. Residents, who previously moved quickly through the streets to avoid drone strikes, began lingering outdoors. Nataliia Myronenko, a 42-year-old coffee kiosk operator, reported a steady flow of customers during lunch and evening hours. "Now, during the quiet, we have people at lunchtime and in the evening, which we didn’t have under the attacks," Myronenko said. She described the pause as a "breath of freedom," noting that while people still watch their footing for mines, the fear of aerial attacks has subsided.

The localized calm contrasts with violence elsewhere in the region. A jet-powered Russian drone struck two passenger trains stopped at a station in Dnipro, central Ukraine, killing at least 14 people and injuring 10. In the northern city of Chernihiv, a Russian cruise missile killed two 15-year-old girls. Additionally, two civilians died when a drone hit an apartment block in Kremenchuk.

Russian air defenses reported downing 1,214 Ukrainian drones overnight, marking one of the largest attacks launched by Kyiv. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that approximately half of these drones were targeted at the Russian capital.

Diplomatic movements continue alongside the military pause. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, for a G20 ministerial meeting beginning Friday. This trip occurs as Russian diesel tankers sail toward the United States and President Donald Trump signals a shift in U.S. engagement with Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also addressed relations with American technology firms. Speaking late Wednesday, he referred to Elon Musk as a "real genius" and said Russia is coordinating with the SpaceX executive on orbital activities. Putin stated that despite political differences, Russia and its American partners continue to work closely together.