Ukraine War: Rare Humanitarian Truce Ends in Occupied Olechky
The humanitarian truce that allowed civilians to evacuate the town of Olechky, occupied by Russia in the south of Ukraine, ended, concluding a rare five-day pause in fighting that both Kyiv and Moscow respected.
The end of the longest ceasefire since the invasion
The temporary cessation of hostilities expired at 20:59 GMT on Sunday, after beginning the previous Tuesday morning. The arrangement marked the longest ceasefire since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The pause opened a narrow corridor through the heavily mined access points of Olechky in the Kherson region, which has endured months of crossfire from Russian and Ukrainian drones alongside severe supply shortages.
Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmytro Loubinets stated on Telegram that both sides honored their commitments during the period. The agreement facilitated the delivery of humanitarian aid to Olechky and assisted residents seeking safe departure.
the truce extended beyond Olechky to deliver supplies and enable evacuations, offering temporary relief to nearby Kherson on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River. Volodymyr Omeltchenko, a local gardener, told Agence France-Presse that residents used the quiet to prepare rosebushes to survive the winter.
The Ukrainian armed forces evacuated 167 additional civilians, including 22 children, from other combat-ravaged areas in the region. Pope Leo XIV expressed support for the humanitarian initiative and voiced hope that the cooperation would foster future dialogue for peace.
Refusal of an extension and immediate resumption of combat
A high-ranking official in the Ukrainian presidency told Agence France-Presse that Russia rejected a proposal from Kyiv to extend the ceasefire. Meanwhile, local sources in Kherson anticipate an immediate escalation.
An anonymous military officer predicted that the fighting would intensify beyond previous levels, stating that Russian forces on the opposite riverbank used the pause to amass new troops, replenish ammunition, and gather intelligence with surveillance drones. Oleksandre Prokoudine, head of the Kherson regional military administration, urged residents to remain vigilant and heed air raid warnings.
One hour before the truce expired, the Russian Ministry of Defence published a statement on Telegram declaring that neither ammunition nor the enemy would be spared, promising a warm night of work.