There are between 2,000 and 6,000 people — depending on whether you include the outlying areas — remaining in the besieged city of Oleshky in the Kherson region of Ukraine. Occupied by Russian forces, they are unable to leave, and all normal routes for the delivery of humanitarian aid are blockaded. For weeks, Ukraine has been making air-drop deliveries of food and medical supplies, but even those have been subject to attack by Russian armaments . . . as have the aid stations set up to distribute the supplies.
In short, the remaining occupants of Oleshky are starving to death. And without heat or proper shelter, those who don’t starve will likely freeze in the oncoming winter if help doesn’t reach them in time. It is tragically reminiscent of the 872-day siege of Leningrad by Nazi Germany during World War II.
But today there is new hope. On October 16th, while recovering from major surgery, Pope Leo XIV initiated talks with the Kremlin, requesting an immediate ceasefire in order to allow delivery of aid and evacuation of those who wish to leave Oleshky. And on October 19th, the Pope spoke directly with Vladimir Putin to press the matter.
Yesterday, just four days after that conversation, the Kremlin announced its agreement to a temporary lifting of the siege of Oleshky to enable life-saving aid to be brought in to the survivors and an evacuation corridor to be established. The rescue operation, the details of which have been under discussion between the Vatican and the Kremlin, is scheduled to begin during the coming week.
If all goes well, it will be a bright light in the ongoing darkness of Russia’s never-ending war of attrition against Ukraine, and a cause for celebration.
If all goes well.
Yet it seems that even a great humanitarian gesture cannot exist without political overtones.
Late yesterday, it was announced that Melania Trump, who had reportedly been involved in international initiatives concerning child welfare, was being credited with having brokered the Oleshky ceasefire agreement. According to the White House, while working on those separate matters, she had learned of the plight of Oleshky and “initiated talks about Oleshky after learning about the situation at one of her events during the U.N. General Assembly session in September.” [Ben Finley and Seung Min Kim, Associated Press, October 23, 2026.]
The statement added that “She and a representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the ceasefire.” [Id.]
Maybe so, maybe not. It would be nice to learn that the enigmatic, mostly absent, do-nothing, titular first lady of the United States actually has taken an active interest in something meaningful during her tenure in Washington. But the fact is that nothing was accomplished until the Pope intervened; and having Melania step into the limelight at the last moment diminishes his contribution and only serves to accentuate the Trump administration’s insatiable lust for glory.
If she was indeed involved in the attempt to rescue the people of Oleshky, then she deserves credit for that. But to claim that she “brokered” the agreement would seem to be a gross exaggeration . . . and more than a little tacky.
Just sayin’ . . .
Brendochka
10/24/26
