Ceasefire expands across Kherson as evacuations set for Friday

A ceasefire covering Ukraine's southern Kherson region is holding, with both sides confirming no breaches since the truce began early Tuesday, as an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 people remain trapped in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky without reliable access to food, water or electricity.

US First Lady Melania Trump, who helped broker the agreement alongside Pope Leo XIV, said the zone covered by the ceasefire had been expanded to allow safe passage for humanitarian convoys. Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of Kherson, confirmed that Russian shelling had stopped in both Kherson city — held by Ukraine — and the wider region.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said events were proceeding according to plan and paid tribute to US mediation. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said results from the ceasefire could open the way for further steps in the peace process.

David Arakhamia, a key official in President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary party, said the truce would run until 22:59 Ukrainian time on Sunday 1 November and described it as the largest de-escalation since 2022. Under the agreement, humanitarian aid deliveries to Oleshky are to be followed by evacuations on Friday for residents wishing to leave.

Before the war, Oleshky had a population of 24,000. Russian forces seized the city in the early days of the February 2022 invasion. The city has had no electricity, gas or water since the Kakhovka Dam was destroyed in 2023. Residents have described cooking garden weeds to survive, and escape routes remain mined and subject to drone attack.