Updated

Russia and Ukraine agreed on October 23 to a localized ceasefire in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Kherson region, mediated by US First Lady Melania Trump, to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations. The truce, confirmed by the White House, the Kremlin and Ukrainian officials including ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, was set to begin either October 27 or 29 depending on the source, with Russian General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov announcing a Kherson front "silence regime" from October 27. The move followed mounting international attention on Oleshky's humanitarian crisis, including telephone diplomacy by Pope Leo XIV with both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, after Ukrainian officials described the blockaded city as a "death trap." Ukrainian media separately identified the 217th Guards Airborne Regiment and its commander as responsible for the blockade and alleged starvation of residents, and five more children were reported returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory from the area.