Residents stroll through Kherson's streets for the first time in years as a US‑brokered ceasefire holds.
US‑BROKERED CEASEFIRE BRINGS QUIET TO KHerson, RUSSIAN BUILD‑UP ALERT
*A US‑brokered pause has given Kherson its first two days of silence in nearly five years. Residents step out, but analysts warn Russia may use the lull to reinforce its forces ahead of renewed attacks.*
Kherson has tasted a rare two‑day quiet after nearly five years of relentless Russian aerial attacks. The pause, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump, began on Tuesday and is slated to end on Sunday. For the first time since the invasion, streets are free of the constant whine of drones, and residents are venturing out of their shelters.
Videos on social media show people strolling down avenues draped in anti‑drone nets, gathering in squares, and shopping without the usual dread. Olga, 42, said the silence feels "as if everything has finally come to an end". The human‑rights ombudsman called the scene a literal revival of city life.
Yet the calm is fragile. Russian forces are reportedly using the lull to reinforce positions, stockpile supplies, and redeploy troops. Analysts warn that the ceasefire could enable a stronger Russian offensive once it expires.
What triggered the temporary ceasefire?
The ceasefire began on Tuesday after US First Lady Melania Trump negotiated a safe‑passage deal for civilians in the Russian‑occupied town of Oleshky, across the Dnipro from Kherson. Russian troops spent several days clearing mines to enable an evacuation slated for Friday. The pause is set to expire on Sunday, marking a brief window of calm in a front‑line city battered by aerial attacks for almost five years.
How are residents reacting to the silence?
Olga, 42, told the BBC the city is "alive" and described "total silence" that left her "overjoyed". Human‑rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said Kherson has "literally come back to life", with people walking in the autumn sun. Residents like Dima reported the first uninterrupted shopping trips and coffee outings. Social‑media user Yulia posted that she returned from the supermarket "whole and calm", a stark contrast to the usual terror‑filled trips.
Are Russian forces exploiting the lull?
An anonymous local‑government source warned that Russian troops are using the ceasefire to "strengthen their positions, bring in more military supplies, weapons, ammunition, and drones, and carry out some redeployment of their forces". Petro Andriushchenko, director of Ukraine's Center for Studying the Occupation, said locals observed a build‑up around Radensk, about 20km from Oleshky. He cautioned that once the truce ends, Russian units will be stronger and could make the situation "worse than we saw before".
What does life look like in the red zone?
Dozens of Khersonians entered the "red zone"—areas previously unlivable due to constant drone and artillery fire—to retrieve belongings. Czech volunteer Denisa Bohackova described scenes of families carrying suitcases through streets littered with charred shells and looted homes. The destruction she witnessed was "breathtaking". Even as schools, theatres, kindergartens and hospitals operate underground, civilians endure a battlefield that has become their daily reality.
Frequently asked questions
When does the US‑brokered ceasefire in Kherson end?
The temporary pause in hostilities is set to end on Sunday.
Who negotiated the ceasefire that allowed civilians to leave Oleshky?
US First Lady Melania Trump brokered the safe‑passage deal that led to the ceasefire.
How many people remain in Kherson after the invasion?
The city's population has fallen from over 250,000 to about 65,000 since the invasion began.
The ceasefire offers Kherson a fleeting glimpse of normalcy, but the underlying dynamics suggest a calculated Russian strategy. As the truce lapses on Sunday, the city faces the prospect of a reinforced enemy and a potentially harsher onslaught. Residents brace for the return of shelling, aware that the brief peace may have bought Russia time to deepen its foothold.
Sources: BBC World News article 'The city is alive': A brief peace in Kherson, but residents fear what comes next