Ukrainian refugees will be sent to Russia under Melania Trump’s ceasefire

A ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky will see Ukrainians sent to Russia.

The two sides agreed to pause fighting to allow civilians to escape the city, which has been occupied by Russian forces since February 2022.

However, those seeking evacuation would be taken to Crimea or Russia before they were able to return to Ukraine, a Ukrainian source told The Telegraph.

"Both nations agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway," the White House said.

Members of the Ukrainian diaspora at the US Embassy in Warsaw demanding international intervention to create a humanitarian corridor for the citizens of Oleshky - Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP via Getty Images

The ceasefire held on Tuesday, with neither side reporting any violations after several hours.

The war-ravaged city in Ukraine's southern Kherson region had been caught in the middle of fighting between the two sides since 2022, when it was seized by Russian forces at the start of their invasion.

Food and medical supplies have been scarce for months in Oleshky, which sits on the Dnipro River, which separates Ukrainian forces from the city's Russian occupiers.

Once a city of about 24,000 residents, Oleshky was captured by Moscow's forces on the first day of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Its buildings were shelled and burned, and its infrastructure damaged.

Oksana Pohomii, deputy of the Kherson city council, told The Telegraph that residents of Oleshky are "deeply concerned" that they will not be transported back to Ukraine.

She said: "In Oleshky, demining has begun on the route that people will use to leave. People are currently busy filling out forms, those who have decided to try and leave.

"The local residents of Oleshky are deeply concerned that the Russians will not stick to their demands, take them to Russia and not transport them to Ukraine.

"I realise that not everyone feels this way... some might want to stay in 'Katsapiya' [A derogatory term for Russia] while the majority would want to leave from Ukraine."

Ukrainians holding placards gather near the Vatican Embassy to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the town of Oleshky - 2026 Anadolu

A volunteer working to evacuate residents from Oleshky said it was "quiet" in the region and the ceasefire was holding.

They told The Telegraph: "There is a ceasefire in effect, and there has been no fire from either side. People are currently able to move around the city."

They added that the lack of internet and ability to communicate is causing major issues for those wishing to evacuate.

"Another major issue is that people have no way to communicate, because there has been no electricity there for a very long time. Phones aren't working, and essentially nothing is functioning," they said.

"I believe the majority of the residents will take part in this evacuation, because living there has become impossible. It's hell on earth. It's hell there, and it has been since January of this year."

The first lady has taken a leading role in returning Ukrainian children seized by Russia during the war to their families.

Her efforts have helped more than two dozen Ukrainian children return to their families after Moscow took them from their homes for forced "re-education".

Announcing the truce last Friday, Mrs Trump said civilian officials from both Russia and Ukraine would visit residents in their homes and "determine the level of assistance they require".

"Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine," she said.