Ukraine and Russia will observe a ceasefire in and around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, about 5 miles behind the front lines, allowing residents to evacuate, the office of first lady Melania Trump announced Friday.
The temporary ceasefire, negotiated by Trump, will begin Oct. 29. Envoys from Ukraine and Russia will go door to door in Oleshky to identify Ukrainian residents who wish to leave, with Newsmax cameras granted exclusive access to document the effort.
The town had a population of about 24,000 before Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Fewer than 2,000 people remain, mostly older residents unable to leave, along with about 50 children, according to the release.
Oleshky is in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, southwest of the Dnipro River, and was captured by Russian forces in the first days of the invasion.
Routes into and out of the town are reportedly heavily mined and targeted by armed drones, while the road between Oleshky and Radensk to the west is littered with destroyed vehicles, earning it the nickname “Road of Death.”
According to the release, the town has limited electricity, no running water or heat, and residents are facing severe food shortages.
“The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster. Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water,” Trump said in a release.
“It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible.”
According to the release, Trump worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian officials as an “exclusive intermediary” to negotiate the ceasefire.
“Non-military, civilian leaders from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes and determine the level of assistance they require,” Trump said. “Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine.”
Newsmax cameras have been granted access to “document Russian and Ukrainian teams on the ground throughout the process,” according to the release.
“This will play a significant role in ensuring that the wishes of each family are faithfully respected,” Trump said.
Oleshky was brought to Trump’s attention during a private meeting at her Fostering the Future Together event held in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
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