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Briefings · Friday, October 23, 2026 · 💼 5 PM
💼 5 PM · While you worked

Russia and Ukraine agree to a local ceasefire in Oleshky, credited to Melania Trump

The White House says first lady Melania Trump secured a localized ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine's Kherson region across the Dnipro River from Kherson, so humanitarian aid can enter and civilians can leave. The Kremlin confirmed the ceasefire and said all civilians who wish to leave will be allowed to, with the evacuation expected to take at least several days. Ukraine's human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, also confirmed the truce and thanked Melania Trump. Start dates differ by source: the White House gave October 29, while Russian General Valery Gerasimov said Russian forces would hold fire from early Tuesday, October 27.

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Why it matters

Civilians in Oleshky, whom Melania Trump described as mostly elderly and in need of medical care, food and water, are to get humanitarian aid and a chance to evacuate. The Kremlin says everyone who wishes to leave will be allowed to. The truce covers only this town, not the wider war.

What to watch

Russian General Valery Gerasimov said Russian forces will hold fire from early Tuesday, October 27; the White House gave October 29 as the start date.

How each side sees it

The White House saysMelania Trump's representatives worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms; she called Oleshky "a front-line war city on the brink of disaster."
Russia saysKremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia welcomes the first lady's efforts and that Russian and Ukrainian militaries are working on the timing of the evacuation.
Ukraine saysHuman rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said the operation will take place in stages and that Ukraine "has done and is doing everything possible to save the people in Oleshky."

Sources

Checked against 5 established news sources:

Also in this edition

Published Friday, October 23, 2026. Spot an error? Email [email protected]. See our corrections log and standards.

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