Russia Accuses Ukraine of Oleshky Strikes Ahead of Local Ceasefire Brokerage
Russia alleges Ukrainian artillery and drone strikes on Oleshky ahead of a local ceasefire brokered by US first lady Melania Trump.
POLICY WIRE — Moscow, Russia — Russia’s Defence Ministry on Monday accused Ukraine of repeatedly targeting the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine with artillery fire and drones ahead of an approaching local ceasefire.
The White House announced on Friday that U.S. First Lady Melania Trump successfully helped broker a localized truce between Russia and Ukraine in the Russian-occupied city, which is scheduled to begin next Thursday.
Civilians in the Russian-occupied area of Oleshky, located in Kherson Oblast, have been grappling with a worsening humanitarian emergency due to ongoing combat that has severely restricted critical road evacuations and the delivery of vital food and medicine.
These people need to be saved, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman, said on Sept. 16, emphasizing the desperation of local residents trapped by the relentless violence.
Moscow has previously asserted that Kyiv deliberately obstructs supply deliveries and evacuation efforts, while Ukrainian officials maintain that Russian forces are effectively holding local civilians hostage.
Prior to the White House announcement regarding the upcoming truce, Ukraine had repeatedly appealed for a localized ceasefire specifically to establish safe evacuation corridors for the stranded population.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
