Truce begins in Ukraine city where residents ate weeds to survive

Meanwhile, a truce has begun in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, a week after it was confirmed by US First Lady, Melania Trump.

Key points

• Oleshky was seized by Russia during the first days of its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
• The White House remarked last week that Melania Trump had secured the ceasefire in Oleshky.
• In August 2025, she penned a letter to Putin, telling him it was "time to protect children and future generations worldwide".
• White House notes Melania Trump brokered truce for Ukraine city 'on brink of disaster'.
• Residents were trapped with scarce food between Ukrainian positions throughout the Dnipro River and Russian forces to the east.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire is meant to allow aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians.

Russia's defence ministry remarked on Telegram it had ceased firing toward the Ukrainian city of Kherson – throughout the river from Oleshky – at 04: 00 Moscow time (01: 00 GMT) in preparation for the humanitarian operation.

Oleshky is on the south bank of the river Dnipro. It forms the front line in the Kherson region. The remaining residents have been desperately short of food and other essential supplies.

Ukraine's parliament commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed in a social media post that the ceasefire had begun.

"As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments, " he wrote on Facebook.

Notably, the city was home to 24, 000 individuals before the war. Now Ukraine estimates that some 6, 000 individuals remain in the city and its surrounding areas, including 200 children.

Meanwhile, the White House remarked last week that Melania Trump had secured the ceasefire in Oleshky.

"Non-military, civilian leaders from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes and determine the level of assistance they require, " she remarked in a press release.

While the US first lady is relatively lower profile than some of her predecessors – and only occasionally seen at White House events – she has become involved in addressing humanitarian problems stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war.

In short, truce begins in Ukraine city where residents ate weeds to survive is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.