KYIV, Ukraine: Residents of a Russian-controlled town in southern Ukraine will receive much-needed food, medical supplies, and other essential items under a temporary ceasefire agreement. Those wishing to leave the town will also be allowed to evacuate.

The relief operation in Oleshky was made possible by a ceasefire arranged through US First Lady Melania Trump. It marks a rare example of cooperation between Russia and Ukraine, which have been at war for four years and eight months in Europe's deadliest conflict since the Second World War.

Officials from both countries appeared together on October 30 to explain the relief operation. Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova and her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets, said the mission would assist residents according to their needs.

Lantratova said the supplies included food, hygiene products, essential medical equipment and fuel.

"The aid was assembled based on the specific needs reported to us; it includes food, hygiene products, essential medical supplies, fuel - everything the people require," she said.

Lubinets said assistance would be available to everyone in need, including those who wanted to leave the town. Residents would be given the option of traveling either to Ukrainian-controlled territory or to Russia.

Oleshky lies on the Dnipro River, opposite Kherson. Russian forces captured it during the first days of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The town has suffered extensive damage during the war. It also flooded badly in 2023 after the destruction of the huge Kakhovka dam upstream.

Residents have described the difficult conditions they face, including dangerous journeys along landmine-filled roads to obtain food and drinking water. One route has become known locally as the "road of death".

Some residents have reported surviving on just a cup of rice or buckwheat each day, sometimes supplemented with tomatoes, cucumbers or wild plants.

A local ceasefire covering Oleshky and parts of the Kherson region began early on October 27 and lasted more than three days.

Lubinets described the arrangement as an unusual development in the conflict, saying it was the first time since 2022 that a ceasefire had been maintained for so long across a large section of the front line.

The delivery of supplies followed demining operations carried out during the week to make the area safer for the relief convoy. Lantratova said a military engineer involved in removing mines and another person had been killed during the operations.

She said 25 buses had been arranged to help residents leave, including special transport for bedridden people. Around 50 medical workers were also available to assist.

A separate bus equipped with cages was provided for residents who wanted to take their pets.

Peace Efforts Remain Uncertain

The joint relief operation has raised hopes that Russia and Ukraine can cooperate on humanitarian issues despite continuing military operations.

However, fighting has continued elsewhere, with both countries increasing long-range air attacks while major changes along the battlefield front lines remain limited.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the two human rights commissioners involved in the Oleshky operation were highly coordinated.

Meanwhile, U.S. mediated peace talks are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi next month. The discussions will be the first since February, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues efforts to end the war.