Russia and Ukraine begin ceasefire in frontline town of Oleschky

The Russian-occupied town of Oleschky in eastern Ukraine has been contested for years. Nevertheless, up to 2,000 people still live there. So that they can get help, there is now a ceasefire. Elsewhere ge

Russia and Ukraine ceasefire for front-line town Oleschky came into force As of: October 27, 2026 • 7:56 a.m

In the end, even the Pope and - according to the US government - First Lady Melania Trump called for a humanitarian ceasefire. Now it's here: The armed forces of Russia and Ukraine are keeping their weapons silent on a local basis in order to enable an aid operation for the front-line town of Oleshky in the Russian-occupied part of the Ukrainian region of Kherson.

Ceasefire in the Ukrainian front-line town of Oleschky tagesschau, Das Erste, October 27th, 2026 • 12:00 p.m. Both sides confirmed the start of the ceasefire. The Russian Defense Ministry said on the short message service Telegram that the shelling towards the Ukrainian city of Kherson, which lies across the Dnipro River from Oleshky, had stopped from 4:00 a.m. Moscow time.

The human rights commissioner of the Ukrainian parliament, Dmytro Lubinets, confirmed the start of the ceasefire on Facebook. "As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I declare that the Ukrainian side is fulfilling its obligations," he wrote.

In September, the Ukrainian army released this recording from Oleschky. At that time, smoke rose from a residential area.

During the ceasefire lasting several days, food and medicine will be delivered to the residents in need. A humanitarian corridor should also be created so that people can leave the region either towards Russia or Ukraine.

Because the small town of Oleschky, located on the front line, is completely mined, the Ukrainian armed forces temporarily used drones to bring relief supplies there. However, many of the unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by Russian troops. According to the agreement, mines should now be cleared in order to create a safe aid corridor. The evacuation is expected to begin in the coming days.

Oleschky has been occupied by Russia since 2022. Of the original population of around 24,000, it is estimated that 1,500 to 2,000 people are still in the badly damaged city. Former residents told AFP earlier this year that those remaining in the city were starving, lacking medication and unable to easily leave the city.

Since May, people in Oleschky have been living on supplies and what they harvested in the summer. more

Pope Leo XIV asked for help for Oleschky in a telephone conversation with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. The White House in Washington says the humanitarian ceasefire is its own initiative. According to the government, Melania Trump brokered the local ceasefire. She initiated the talks and, together with a representative, negotiated the conditions directly with the Russian and Ukrainian leadership.

According to the Kremlin, a potentially successful humanitarian operation in Oleschky could also serve as a model for other sectors of the front. In recent months, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of triggering a humanitarian catastrophe by shelling the city. Including surrounding villages, up to 6,000 people are said to be suffering.

For the first time, a wounded Ukrainian soldier was flown out of the frontline area using a drone. more

While the ceasefire is in effect in Oleshky, Russia continues its attacks on Kyiv. The Ukrainian army said that the Russian side fired ballistic missiles towards the capital. According to Mayor Vitali Klitschko, an important bridge over the Dnipro River was damaged. The metro infrastructure on the bridge was also damaged.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia would continue its attacks despite three-way talks with Ukraine and the USA planned for November. The resumption of negotiations means “no restrictions on hostilities.”

According to the local administration, one person was killed and 30 others injured in a drone attack on a bus in the Russian-controlled part of the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia. This was announced by the Russian-appointed governor of the region, Yevgeny Balitsky.