US First Lady Melania Trump expressed the hope that the humanitarian ceasefire in the temporarily occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region would serve as a starting point for establishing lasting peace in Ukraine. She said that the temporary ceasefire had enabled local residents to gain access to food, drinking water and medicines, as well as to move about more freely without the constant threat of shelling.
- Melania Trump hopes that the ceasefire in Oleshky will mark the beginning of a lasting peace.
- The humanitarian operation ensured that residents had access to food, water and essential medicines.
- Ukrainians who had been evacuated from the occupied town of Oleshky returned to government-controlled territory on 31 October.
- The temporary ceasefire ends on 1 November at 22:59 Kyiv time.
What Melania Trump said
On Sunday, 1 November, the First Lady of the United States posted a message on social media X, which focuses on the results of the humanitarian operation in Oleshky and the surrounding areas of the Kherson region.
According to Melania Trump, the ceasefire that was put in place enabled the civilian population to obtain essential supplies and restored people’s sense of self-respect.
«May Oleshky become a starting point for lasting peace,» wrote the First Lady of the United States.
The day before, on 31 October, she also spoke positively about the results of the humanitarian mission, emphasising that the agreements reached regarding Oleshky had demonstrated that it was possible to prioritise people’s humanitarian needs over military operations.
How the humanitarian operation in Oleshky unfolded
Agreements on a temporary basis ceasefire in the area around the occupied town of Oleshky were reached on 23 October through the mediation of Melania Trump.
The humanitarian mission was originally scheduled to begin on 29 October, but was subsequently brought forward to 27 October. The ceasefire was also extended to additional areas of the Kherson region, which were necessary to ensure the safe passage of humanitarian convoys.
During the operation, it was possible to clear the agreed routes of mines, deliver aid to local residents and organise the evacuation of the civilian population.
On 31 October, the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that evacuated Ukrainians People from Oleshky and the surrounding community crossed the state border in the Chernihiv region. To return to territory controlled by Ukraine, they took a route via Russia and Belarus.
Head of the Office of the President Kirill Budanov confirmed the completion of the humanitarian mission and stated that all parties had adhered to the agreed arrangements.
The ceasefire in the Kherson region is due to end on 1 November
The temporary ceasefire, introduced to allow for a humanitarian operation, is due to end 1 November at 22:59 Kyiv time.
Head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration Alexander Prokudin called on residents of the region to pay particular attention to hazard warnings once the agreements had been finalised.
He also warned against visiting coastal areas near the Dnipro, where there remains a high risk of Russian strikes.
Despite the evacuation operation having been completed, the issue of continued humanitarian access to the temporarily occupied town of Oleshky remains unresolved. Mr Zelenskyy had previously expressed the hope that it would be possible to maintain the supply of aid to the town’s residents.
