Oleshky Access: Ukraine and Russia Set 48-Hour Pause
Aid to the Kherson region town is scheduled for October 29 under a ceasefire beginning October 27.
By Jonathan Hoffmann ·
Access to Oleshky has been arranged after weeks of talks.
The general staffs of Ukraine and Russia announced Friday evening that fighting in a designated area will pause from the night of October 27. The halt is meant to let a humanitarian operation reach Oleshky, a town in Kherson Oblast under Russian occupation. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, said the operation is set for October 29 with a ceasefire in force. The White House said US First Lady Melania Trump had secured a truce between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky, describing a humanitarian disaster there. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia agreed to a ceasefire so a humanitarian mission could proceed in the town.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is counting on American mediation to open access to the town, while warning that conditions inside are severe. Speaking in a video address, he said an arrangement concerning Oleshky should be put into effect soon. Russian forces have mined roads in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, he said. "The situation is dire, extremely dire," Zelenskyy said. Kyiv is seeking a humanitarian operation that would restore access, deliver food and medicine, and let residents leave the combat zone.
Zelenskyy said talks have continued for some time at various levels. "Ukraine will do its part. We count on American mediation to work," he noted.
The dates set by officials place the ceasefire from the night of October 27, with the aid operation on October 29.
