Aid convoy moves to Oleshky amid doubts over broader ceasefire

An aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies started moving overnight towards the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine, France 24 reported on Friday. The movement follows the completion of route demining operations announced by both Russia and Ukraine, according to rte.ie and Anadolu Ajansı. Meduza reported that the Russian and Ukrainian ombudsmen are heading to the town to assist with delivering aid and evacuating civilians. [2][3][6][7]

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk ruled out the prospect of the localized ceasefire paving the way for a broader truce, Euronews reported. Yatsenyuk accused Moscow of exploiting the rare humanitarian operation to gain favour with the White House. Despite the localized truce, Russia said its forces struck energy infrastructure in and around Ukraine's capital on Friday, according to France 24. [1][2]

Oleshky is situated in Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine, near the regional capital of Kherson, and sits on flat steppe landscapes. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Russian forces have occupied the city since February 2022. US First Lady Melania Trump negotiated the localized ceasefire deal, which aimed to facilitate aid deliveries and evacuate residents. [10][11][12]

Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets previously confirmed that Ukraine is honouring the truce. The localized pause in military actions allows civilians to leave the town while relief operations proceed in the area. [9][11]