Fighting returns to Kherson region after longest Ukraine war ceasefire

Key Points:

• Fighting has resumed in Ukraine's Kherson region after a six-day ceasefire, the longest since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, which allowed hundreds of civilians to evacuate from the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky.
• The ceasefire was brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, with both Kyiv and Moscow expressing gratitude, though details of her involvement remain undisclosed; Russian and Ukrainian human rights ombudsmen cooperated to oversee the truce.
• Despite the ceasefire, Russia resumed attacks on Kherson city, including strikes on a medical facility and civilian casualties, while troop rotations and military resupply suggest neither side expects lasting peace in the area.
• The Kremlin dismissed the possibility of similar ceasefires elsewhere, calling Oleshky an isolated case, and continued air strikes in other parts of Ukraine have resulted in civilian deaths and infrastructure damage.
• The ceasefire may have been motivated by political considerations ahead of US midterm elections, with both Russia and Ukraine aiming to maintain favorable relations with the US administration, which remains a key supporter of Ukraine's defense.