Russia pauses strikes in Kherson as ceasefire enables aid to Oleshky

Russia has suspended strikes on Ukraine's Kherson province as a localized ceasefire took effect, according to Al Jazeera. The pause in fighting began at 01:00 GMT Tuesday to facilitate an aid mission into the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Kherson later this week.

The ceasefire agreement, announced on October 23, was brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump with involvement from Pope Leo, aiming to revive peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv after over four and a half years of conflict, Al Jazeera reported.

The mission will deliver aid including doctors, medicines, food, and water to Oleshky, which faces severe shortages and has about 2,000 people unable to leave due to explosive mines and drone attacks, the United Nations said.

Oleshky, with a pre-war population of 24,000, lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson region and has been under Russian control since early 2022. The town has suffered extensive war damage and flooding after the 2023 destruction of the nearby Kakhovka Dam.

The ceasefire is set to last through Saturday or longer, amid deep mistrust between Russia and Ukraine that has previously hindered ceasefire efforts, according to negotiators involved in the aid mission.

This localized ceasefire aims to enable humanitarian aid and evacuations from the front-line town, which has been heavily affected by the ongoing conflict and infrastructure damage.