Russia-Ukraine ceasefire holds in southern Ukraine city, officials say

Global News reports that the localized truce in the devastated southern city of Oleshky began Tuesday and is due to last through Sunday[2]. It says the pause is meant to get urgently needed food and medicine to about 2,000 remaining residents[2] and to evacuate those who want to leave.According to Global News, Russia's ombudsperson Yana Lantratova and Ukraine's human rights ombudsperson Dmytro Lubinets both said Wednesday there had been no ceasefire violations in Oleshky for 30 hours.[2]Lubinets told Ukraine's 1+1 television, as reported by AP via Military.com, that once the road is de-mined and aid is delivered, "representatives of three countries — Ukraine, the United States, and the Russian Federation — will be present on the spot"[3]. He also said evacuated residents will be free to choose between Ukraine and Russia as their destination[3].Global News reports that the White House said[2] U.S. first lady Melania Trump brokered the humanitarian mission.[2]The Vatican said[2] Pope Leo XIV spoke this month with presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin of Russia, urging them to allow humanitarian aid into Oleshky[2].Global News reports, however, that Moscow and Kyiv continued to batter each other elsewhere.[2]Ukraine's State Emergency Service said[2] a Russian drone strike on Kharkiv wounded five people, including a four-year-old child[2]. Russia's Defense Ministry said that air defences downed 531 Ukrainian drones from late Tuesday through early Wednesday.[2]