A limited ceasefire has begun in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky, where residents have been trapped without food, water and electricity. 

Ukrainian officials and Russia’s Defence Ministry say the truce is being respected. The ceasefire, which the White House says was secured by United States First Lady Melania Trump, is intended to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and the evacuation of civilians on Friday. Oleshky, located in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, is caught between the Dnipro River, which separates it from Ukrainian positions, and Russian forces. 

Residents have reportedly resorted to cooking garden weeds to survive amid severe food shortages, with many appealing for an opportunity to leave the city. However, concerns remain over whether the ceasefire will hold, as some residents have expressed distrust of Russian intentions. 

Oleshky had a population of about 24-thousand before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, when Russian forces seized the city. Ukrainian authorities estimate that about six-thousand people, including 200 children, remain in the city and surrounding areas.