Truce begins in Ukraine city where residents ate weeds to survive

A truce 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 limited ceasefire is being respected. The truce, which the White House said was secured by US First Lady Melania Trump, is meant to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuation on Friday.

Oleshky, along the front line in the Kherson region, is trapped on one side by the Dnipro River, which separates it from Ukrainian positions, and on the other by Russian forces.

Many residents have resorted to cooking garden weeds to survive, telling the BBC they are suffering extreme hunger and want to leave.

Many worry the truce will not hold, with one resident saying: "I don't believe in Russia's humanity."

Oleshky, home to 24,000 people before the war, was seized by Russia during the first days of its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine now estimates some 6,000 people, including 200 children, remain in the city and its surrounding areas.

No shops are open, and the city has had no electricity, gas or water for three years.

Ukraine has attempted to deliver supplies but has not had success in recent months, and it is deemed too dangerous to risk leaving on foot along mined roads out of the city. The ceasefire is supposed to allow supplies to reach the city and enable its roads to be cleared of mines to allow people safe passage out.

One woman told the BBC she is in hospital recovering from two surgeries after stepping on a land mine.

"I don't know how long I will have to spend there," she said, worried about not being able to join Friday's planned evacuation.

It is hard to make contact with people in Oleshky as communication is patchy and and many are reluctant to speak of the situation in fear of reprisals from the Russians, making it is difficult to verify reports the ceasefire is being implemented.

Many details on the evacuations plans are unclear, initially including how and where to register for it. Some people want to know if they can bring their pets. Others are questioning what future they will have if they opt to leave their homes.

While people are optimistic about leaving, there are also fears that Russia may not allow them to return to Ukraine, or examine their phones and online activity for signs of Ukrainian support, which could see them be taken away and tortured.

Someone who has been speaking to family in Oleshky said they fear shooting could restart during evacuations and Ukraine will somehow be blamed for not upholding the truce.

Last month, the Kremlin acknowledged that Oleshky faced "a critical situation" and "problems with supplies of food and medicine", but added that "Russia's military was working to resolve them" and blamed Kyiv.

In response to the situation, the White House said last week that Melania Trump had secured a ceasefire, with no details for how long it would last.

Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram it had stopped firing toward the Ukrainian city of Kherson - across the river from Oleshky - at 04:00 Moscow time (01:00 GMT) in preparation for the humanitarian operation.

Ukraine's parliament commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, also confirmed in a social media post that the ceasefire had begun.

"As head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, I confirm that the Ukrainian side is honouring its commitments," he wrote on Facebook.

The White House said in the statement last week that "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".

While the US first lady is relatively lower profile than some of her predecessors - and only occasionally seen at White House events - she has become involved in addressing humanitarian issues stemming from the Russia-Ukraine war.

In August 2025, she penned a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling him it was "time to protect children and future generations worldwide".

While a truce is under way in Oleshky, elsewhere strikes continue.