MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. Russia and Ukraine have agreed to cease fire in Alyoshki in the Kherson Region starting October 29, the White House said.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said later in the day that the evacuation of residents from Alyoshki as part of the humanitarian operation may take at least several days and all those willing will be able to leave the city.
Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army Valery Gerasimov, in turn, announced that Russian forces will enforce a localized ceasefire at 1:00 a.m. GMT on October 27 to allow for a humanitarian operation near Alyoshki.
TASS has summed up what is known about the agreement at this moment.
The White House statements
Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in Alyoshki in the Kherson Region, the White House said.
The local ceasefire will come into effect on October 29, 2026.
The sides agreed to cease hostilities in Alyoshki to "allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway."
An independent US media organization will assist and document the actions of both Russia and Ukraine during the ceasefire.
The White House said on Melania Trump has contributed to a ceasefire.
Melania Trump and her representative collaborated with the leadership of Russia and Ukraine "to define the terms of the localized ceasefire."
She "initiated discussions with both nations and aligned the parties on the agreement’s objectives, technical procedures, timing, processes, and terms, in her formal role as Exclusive Intermediary."
The Kremlin’s statements
Russia commends the efforts of US First Lady Melania Trump, "who has made a significant contribution to coordinating the humanitarian operation in the settlement of Alyoshki in the Kherson region."
Alyoshki’s residents will be able to leave the city unimpededly: "Those willing to leave this settlement will be able to do so."
It may take several days to evacuate people from Alyoshki as part of the humanitarian operation: "I’d rather refrain from anticipating anything but, naturally, it will take at least several days."
Russian ombudswoman Yana Lantratova and her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmitry Lubinets, have done much work, enabling the military to coordinate ceasefire timelines in Alyoshki "to build up on agreements reached between Presidents [Vladimir] Putin and [Donald] Trump."
Statements by the Russian Chief of the General Staff
In connection with the humanitarian operation near Alyoshki, the Russian Armed Forces "will cease fire in the Kherson area and implement a ceasefire starting at 4:00 a.m. Moscow time (1:00 a.m. GMT) on October 27, 2026."
"To ensure the security of people and delivery of vital social supplies, engineering reconnaissance will be carried out and a safe passage of humanitarian aid to the locality of Alyoshki in the Kherson Region will be provided."
Russia-US contacts on the situation in Alyoshki
During a phone call with US leader Donald Trump on October 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that regarding the humanitarian situation in Alyoshki, it was agreed that Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova would remain in regular contact with Melania Trump’s staff.
During US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit to Russia, Putin asked him to convey his thanks to Melania Trump for her role in resolving humanitarian issues in Ukraine, in particular, foe her mediation regarding the situation in Alyoshki, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on October 21.
A humanitarian communication channel between Lantratova and the team of US First Lady Melania Trump on the situation in Alyoshki could help spread the truth about that situation in the town, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik said.
Russia’s actions to ease the humanitarian situation in Alyoshki
Lantratova said she had discussed the situation in Alyoshki with Ukrainian human rights ombudsman Dmitry Lubinets.
Russian children’s rights ombudswoman Maria Lvova-Belova said she is monitoring the situation in Alyoshki.
The Russian authorities are doing everything they can to help Alyoshki residents and organize their evacuation from the city, Vladimir Polyakov, a member of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) legislature, told TASS.
Situation in Alyoshki
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov on September 21 described the humanitarian situation in Alyoshki as critical.
Food and medicines cannot be delivered to the city amid Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks.
More than 1,200 artillery and drone strikes had been delivered by Ukrainian troops on Alyoshki over the week, the district’s head Ruslan Khomenko said on October 19.
Ukrainian FPV drone operators deliberately target civilian houses in border areas of the Alyoshki district, an officer of the 331st regiment of the 98th airborne division with a call sign Salyut told TASS.
Civilians in Alyoshki had received no humanitarian assistance from Ukraine, all reports to the contrary are not true, Svetlana Popova, an evacuated local resident, told TASS.
People from neighboring settlement on the Dnieper left bank tried to deliver food to Alyoshki, but Ukrainian troops did not let them do this, she said.