Ceasefire Set for Oct 27 as Ukraine Plans Oleshky Aid Delivery for Oct 29

Residents of Oleshky, a town in Kherson Oblast held by Russian forces, are set to receive food and medicine under a ceasefire agreed by the general staffs of Ukraine and Russia. The pause in a designated area takes effect from the night of 27 October, with the humanitarian operation planned for 29 October, according to Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv wants access to the town restored, supplies delivered, and residents able to leave the combat zone. He said Russian forces have mined roads in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region. "The situation is dire, extremely dire," Zelenskyy said in a video address.

Talks on the arrangement have run for some time at various levels, Zelenskyy said. "Ukraine will do its part. We count on American mediation to work," he said. He added that an arrangement concerning Oleshky should be put into effect soon.

The White House said US First Lady Melania Trump had secured a truce between Russia and Ukraine in Oleshky, describing a humanitarian disaster as unfolding there. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia had agreed to a ceasefire so a humanitarian mission could proceed in the town.