Melania Trump says Ukraine-Russia ceasefire expanded within Kherson region

WASHINGTON: US first lady Melania Trump said on Tuesday that a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia has been expanded beyond the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky within the Kherson region.

In a post on X, she said the timing had been "accelerated two days ahead of schedule to protect the safety of civilians and to facilitate the delivery of critical humanitarian aid".

"The ceasefire's geographic area has expanded beyond Oleshky, within the Kherson Region, to provide safe passage for the humanitarian convoys," she wrote.

The truce took effect at 0100 GMT on Tuesday. Its aim is to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations in Oleshky.

According to the BBC, Mrs Trump helped broker the deal together with Pope Leo XIV. The press secretary to Ukraine's public ombudsman later corroborated the expansion. Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of Kherson, said Russian shelling had stopped in Kherson city, which is held by Ukraine, and in the wider region.

Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova said the arrangement would stay in force until 22:59 Moscow time on 1 November. She said the agreement was being "fully upheld". Neither side had reported violations as of 5:30pm Moscow time (1430 GMT) on Tuesday, she said.

Ms Lantratova said Russia was working with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets, with the mediation and coordination of Mrs Trump.

David Arakhamia, a senior official in President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary party, described the truce as the "largest de-escalation since 2022".

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said everything was proceeding "according to plan". He paid tribute to US mediation. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that if the ceasefire produced results, it could "pave the way for other steps in the peace process".

Under the deal, aid is to be delivered to Oleshky, possibly on Thursday, once roads are cleared of mines. Evacuations for anyone wishing to leave are planned for Friday.

An estimated 1,700 to 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, with a few thousand more in surrounding areas. The city had 24,000 residents before the war. Russia seized it in the first days of its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The city has had no electricity, gas or water since the Kakhovka Dam was blown up in 2023. Routes out have been mined and are subject to drone attack.

Russia's defence ministry said units of its Dnepr group were conducting "engineering reconnaissance" and clearing main access roads of "explosive and booby-trap devices".

Pope Leo had appealed earlier this month to President Vladimir Putin to allow food, medical aid and a safe evacuation. The White House said last week that Mrs Trump had secured the ceasefire.

Many details of the evacuation plans remain unclear.