Oleshky 2026: Truce begins in Ukraine city where residents ate weeds
A ceasefire has started in Oleshky, Ukraine, where residents spent three years eating weeds and lacking basic utilities, with US help securing evacuations.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A limited ceasefire has begun in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
- Trapped residents faced extreme hunger, boiling garden weeds, and three years without water or power.
- The White House stated US First Lady Melania Trump successfully secured the truce agreement.
- Humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations are planned for Friday.
A limited ceasefire has officially commenced in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, where residents have remained trapped without access to food, water, or electricity. Both Ukrainian officials and the Russian defence ministry confirmed that the ongoing truce is being respected by all parties involved.
According to the White House, the humanitarian truce was successfully secured through the diplomatic efforts of US First Lady Melania Trump. The agreement is primarily designed to facilitate essential aid deliveries and a planned civilian evacuation scheduled for Friday.
Situated along the front line in the Kherson region, Oleshky is physically trapped between the Dnipro River and surrounding Russian forces. Conditions have deteriorated to such an extreme level that no local shops remain open, and the entire city has been completely cut off from electricity, gas, and running water for three consecutive years.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Driven by extreme desperation, many local residents have resorted to cooking and eating garden weeds just to survive. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that up to 6,000 people, including 200 children, remain stranded in Oleshky and surrounding areas, with only 1,700 individuals left inside the city proper compared to a pre-war population of 24,000.
The humanitarian crisis in Oleshky highlights the severe toll that protracted front-line conflicts take on civilian populations, isolating communities from vital lifelines. The involvement of the US First Lady in brokering this localized cessation of hostilities underscores an unconventional diplomatic approach to addressing acute civilian suffering amid broader geopolitical tensions.
Evacuation efforts remain fraught with anxiety and logistical challenges, as escape routes are heavily mined and exposed to drone attacks, leaving many residents fearful of renewed fighting and uncertain about their futures.
Earlier this month, Pope Leo XIV publicly appealed to Russian leader Vladimir Putin to permit food and medical supplies into Oleshky while urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cooperate on the ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry reported halting fire toward nearby Kherson to prepare for the humanitarian operation.
Source: BBC World
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