Truce holds in Oleshky as aid convoys prepare to move

Humanitarian aid is set to enter Oleshky on Friday, marking the third day of a fragile ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian city. Ukrainian and Russian officials confirmed that the temporary truce has held without reported violations. This pause in fighting is designed to allow food and medical supplies to reach approximately 2,000 residents who have been trapped in the Russian-occupied area.

The agreement was brokered with the help of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, according to the White House. Pope Leo XIV also called for a halt to the fighting in the region. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman, stated that the ceasefire has been in place for 54 hours as of Thursday. He noted that both parties are fully adhering to the agreements.

Russian officials confirmed the truce is holding. Yana Lantratova, the Russian ombudsman, said Russian engineers are currently clearing landmines from roads in Oleshky. She explained that this work is necessary to prepare a safe passage for the humanitarian convoy. Local civilians will also have the option to evacuate to either Russia or Ukraine, though the specific logistics for this process remain unclear.

The temporary calm in Oleshky offers relief to civilians in nearby Kherson, which is held by Ukraine. Residents there have faced intense shelling and have welcomed the reduced military activity. The six-day ceasefire is part of a larger diplomatic push as Moscow and Kyiv seek to improve relations with Washington ahead of potential three-way talks next month.

Despite the local truce, the wider war continues with intense aerial combat. Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that air defenses shot down 1,214 Ukrainian drones overnight. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin indicated that about half of these drones were targeting the capital. In response, Ukraine stated that Russia fired 112 drones at seven different locations across the country.

Political dynamics in Washington are also influencing the conflict. President Donald Trump has recently signaled a shift in U.S. support for Ukraine, including waiving some sanctions on Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, for a G20 ministerial meeting starting Friday. Meanwhile, European leaders continue to work toward isolating Russian President Vladimir Putin diplomatically.

The conflict also involves high-tech coordination between Russian and American entities. President Putin praised Elon Musk as a genius during a speech on Wednesday. He noted that Russia is building its own satellite internet network and is in contact with Musk to coordinate their activities in orbit. This collaboration continues despite the ongoing political tensions between the two nations.