Russia and Ukraine agree localised ceasefire to allow aid and evacuations in occupied town of Oleshky

Summary

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a localised ceasefire around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine, opening a humanitarian corridor for aid deliveries and evacuations. Residents have been trapped by minefields, shelling and drones, and some have been eating weeds and pickles to survive. Deutsche Welle reports that around 2,000 people remain stranded in the city, which has been devastated by fighting and flooding since Moscow's invasion in 2022, and that the ceasefire for the aid mission has begun. The New York Times reports that the truce that began on Tuesday is supposed to allow aid in and civilians out, and that many people who have stayed have run out of food as bombardment continues.

Timeline

1. NPR

   26 Oct 2026, 08:42 UTCSource ↗

   NPR reports that Russia says it will open a humanitarian corridor to the occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky, where people have been eating weeds and pickles to survive while trapped by minefields, shelling and drones.

2. Straits Times

   26 Oct 2026, 12:30 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a localised ceasefire around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, which will enable aid deliveries and evacuations from a frontline town suffering acute shortages of food and medicine.

3. Deutsche Welle

   27 Oct 2026, 03:52 UTCSource ↗

   Deutsche Welle reports that around 2,000 people remain stranded in Oleshky, facing severe shortages of food and medicine, and that the ceasefire for the aid mission has begun.

4. New York Times

   27 Oct 2026, 07:44 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that many people left in Oleshky, where bombardment is constant, have run out of food, and that a truce that began Tuesday is supposed to allow aid in and civilians out.