The key facts
- Russia and Ukraine have begun demining approaches to Alyoshky under an agreement on a temporary ceasefire
- The arrangement was reached through the mediation of US First Lady Melania Trump
- After the demining, deliveries of food, medicine and water are planned, as well as the evacuation of residents
Demining begins
Russia and Ukraine have begun demining the routes along which humanitarian aid is to be delivered to Alyoshky in the Kherson region. The start of the work was announced by US First Lady Melania Trump on the social network X: according to her, the parties are already carrying out the activities stipulated by the agreements under the ceasefire deal reached through her mediation. The report of the demining was also confirmed by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets.
What is planned next
Preparing safe routes is needed to deliver food, medicine and other essential items to the city. Once the work is completed, an evacuation of local residents who wish to leave Alyoshky is planned.
Statements from Moscow
Earlier, the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov announced a humanitarian operation in Alyoshky: in the coming days, the delivery of food, medicine and drinking water, as well as the evacuation of those wishing to leave, was to be organized. According to him, no reports of violations of the ceasefire regime had been received, and he expressed hope that the operation would be carried out safely.
Context
Thus, the reports from the two sides — via Melania Trump and via the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner — agree on the main point: the demining has begun, and the ceasefire regime, according to the Kremlin's assessment, has so far not been violated. The published statements did not mention the timing of the completion of the work or the start of aid deliveries and evacuations; these questions remain open.
