A Rare Pause in the Fighting
The ceasefire began Tuesday morning and was brokered by Melania Trump. It enabled aid missions to Olechky. Residents could leave combat zones as the war enters its fifth year. No violations were reported. One Ukrainian MP called it „the biggest de-escalation since 2022”. A Ukrainian official told AFP that Kyiv's foreign minister proposed an extension, but „the Russians do not want it”.
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The conflict, sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, has destroyed large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine. It has killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians. Millions have been forced to leave their homes.
Residents Find Relief
AFP interviewed several Kherson residents. Volodymyr Omeltchenko, a 38-year-old gardener, described the pause as a „breath of fresh air”. „We must use this time to solve problems,”he said. He added that he was pruning rose bushes for winter.
Pope Leo XIV Hopes for Dialogue
Pope Leo XIV, who asked Russia for a truce for Olechky, expressed hope that the pause would „strengthen the desire for dialogue and lead to new concrete peace initiatives”. A Ukrainian military officer, speaking anonymously, feared fighting would resume „more intensely than before”. Russian forces across the Dnieper used the quiet days to build up troops, move ammunition, and gather intelligence on Ukrainian positions using surveillance drones.
Regional Governor Warns of Resumed Attacks
Kherson regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin warned locals to be extra vigilant as the truce ends. He urged them to „react immediately to warnings about Russian attacks”.
Strikes Continue Elsewhere
Both sides exchanged strikes in other areas on Sunday. Russia announced Sunday morning that a drone hit an industrial enterpriseeast of Moscow the previous night. Ukrainian media reported that Kyiv struck the Kstovo oil refinery, described as one of Russia's largest oil refineries, producing fuel and lubricants. Kyiv has repeatedly hit Russian oil and gas targets, viewing it as fair retaliation for Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. US President Donald Trump pressured Kyiv to stop these strikes, citing rising diesel prices that analysts attribute to the Iran war.
Energy Infrastructure Under Pressure
Ukraine's energy minister reported new power outages across the country on Sunday, including in Kyiv, following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure. Ukrainian strikes killed five people in Russian-occupied Ukraine between Sunday evening and Sunday afternoon, according to Russian-appointed authorities. Both countries deny targeting civilians.
Occupied Territories and Future Talks
Russia currently occupies about a fifth of its neighbor: the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014, most of the eastern Donbass regions (Donetsk and Luhansk), and large parts of the southern Zaporijje and Kherson regions. US-mediated negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled to resume this month, after being effectively frozen since the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in February.
