Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a ceasefire in Oleshky, a town that has sat near the front line for much of the war. The halt in fighting is set to begin on 27 October. Under the deal, civilians will be allowed to leave the area, giving residents a route out of a hard-pressed settlement. Word of the agreement was first announced by Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, before it was confirmed by the two sides. Pauses in hostilities between Russia and Ukraine have been few since the full-scale invasion began. Evacuations from frontline towns have often been stalling affairs, so the promised civilian departures will be watched closely. A lot depends on both armies holding fire along the agreed stretch for the duration.