Ceasefire holds in Ukraine's Oleshky as U.S.-led talks loom

A six-day ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Oleshky held through its first day and night, officials said Wednesday, as a humanitarian operation prepares to deliver food and medicine to about 2,000 residents and offer evacuations. The truce, which began Tuesday and runs through Sunday, marks a potential first significant pause in fighting since the invasion began over four years ago. A U.S. representative will join Russian and Ukrainian officials on the ground, and evacuated residents may choose their destination, according to Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets. The mission was brokered by U.S. first lady Melania Trump, with Pope Leo XIV also urging humanitarian access. The ceasefire coincides with planned U.S.-led talks in Abu Dhabi, though Ukraine reaffirmed it will not compromise sovereignty. Meanwhile, fighting continued elsewhere, with a Russian drone strike wounding five in Kharkiv and Russia reporting downing 531 Ukrainian drones.