Russia and Ukraine announce completion of demining near Oleshki, ready to launch aid mission

Russia and Ukraine announced Thursday that demining operations around the town of Oleshki, under Russian control in southern Ukraine, are complete and a humanitarian aid and evacuation mission is ready to begin. The two sides issued nearly identical statements via their human rights commissioners, Iana Lantratova and Dmitro Lubineț, saying the aid convoy will head to a district hospital and residents wishing to leave may do so within a specified timeframe. The local ceasefire, agreed October 23 and negotiated with involvement from US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leon, addresses acute food and medicine shortages in the frontline town. Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted Trump's role in organizing the mission, blaming Ukraine for mining access routes and causing a humanitarian crisis, while Kyiv accuses Russian forces of similar actions. The truce, in effect since October 27, is set to last until Sunday evening.