A temporary ceasefire negotiated by Melania Trump has brought a brief respite to the war-torn Kherson region in southern Ukraine, providing a critical opportunity for evacuation and humanitarian relief amid months of severe hardship. The truce, the first internationally brokered ceasefire along the front lines since Russia’s invasion began in 2022, was implemented earlier this week and is set to remain in effect until Sunday.
The agreement facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of residents from the devastated town of Oleshky, where they had endured dire conditions, including shortages of food, water, and electricity. Those leaving Oleshky, located near the Dnipro River and surrounded by Russian minefields, are being transported south to Russian-controlled Crimea, where they must decide whether to travel onward to areas controlled by the Ukrainian government or remain under Russian authority.
Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to the U.S. first lady, expressed hope that this ceasefire could pave the way for further truces or even a broader peace initiative. “If Ukraine and Russia would welcome the first lady, I’m sure that she would be happy to continue to participate to try to get everlasting peace throughout that region,” he said.
Residents of Oleshky described conditions that had deteriorated to a near-apocalyptic level, with bodies reportedly left uncollected in the streets and civilians forced to forage under threat of drone attacks. Across the Dnipro River in city of Kherson, under Ukrainian control, the situation remains precarious. While the ceasefire has provided a rare period of quiet, local residents fear it may be used by Russian forces to regroup and reposition along the riverbank.
“Now my message to Melania is to give us missiles, give us air defence systems to defend ourselves,” said Tamara, a 55-year-old flower seller in Kherson. The city has endured continuous Russian drone patrols and attacks targeting civilians, including funerals and emergency vehicles. Tamara recounted how fear has kept her from visiting her husband’s grave, highlighting the toll on everyday life.
Medical staff at the Kherson city hospital also noted a significant drop in casualties since the ceasefire began, with some days previously seeing up to 10 patients daily from combat-related injuries. “Today we can breathe freely,” said Vitaliy Khomukha, head of the hospital’s surgical department.
For many, the ceasefire has been a narrow window for family reunifications as well. Olha, 43, managed to evacuate her 94-year-old grandmother, Oleksandra, from the village of Bilozerka, despite years of shelling and isolation. Oleksandra had been injured during an explosion and was unable to receive help prior to the ceasefire.
The evacuation routes remain hazardous due to mines scattered along dirt paths, with Ukrainian sappers actively engaged in clearing explosives during the truce. Officials reported efforts to erect anti-drone netting to protect civilians during this lull in hostilities.
Despite the temporary calm, many residents expressed deep anxiety about what will follow once the ceasefire ends. Tetyana, a local woman, underscored the ongoing crisis: “All of us who have stayed here — Putin has made us homeless. Please don’t make it look as though things are fine here. They’re not. Things are very, very bad ... after the ceasefire, they’ll hit us even harder.”