A limited ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia took effect early Tuesday in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky to allow humanitarian aid to reach residents trapped by the war. US First Lady Melania Trump announced the truce last week. Both sides agreed to observe it from 3 am local time (0100 GMT).

AFP could not immediately confirm whether fighting had reduced. Ukraine's military reported early Tuesday that ballistic missiles had been launched towards Kyiv.

Located in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, Oleshky has remained caught in the conflict since Russian forces seized it in 2022. Former residents told AFP earlier this year that people still living there faced hunger, shortages of medicine and difficulties leaving the city.

Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed the ceasefire on Tuesday. "In connection with preparations for a humanitarian operation in the area of Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, (Russian forces) have ceased fire in the Kherson sector and introduced a 'regime of silence'," it said on Telegram.

Ukraine's human rights commissioner Dmytro Lubinets said Kyiv was "fulfilling its commitments" to the ceasefire. "The sides are adhering to the agreements that we reached," he said.

The truce covers a limited area as the war enters its fifth year. Peace talks involving Washington, Moscow and Kyiv are expected to resume in November after a months-long pause. The three countries have not disclosed who will monitor the ceasefire or provided details of the humanitarian operation.

Announcing the agreement last Friday, Melania Trump said civilian officials from both countries would visit residents 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.

Newsmax, a US cable network, said it had received "exclusive television access" to accompany observers entering the city on Thursday.

Neither side has specified how long the truce will last. Russia's Defence Ministry said it would halt fire in the Kherson sector and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian supplies. It quoted army chief Valery Gerasimov as saying: "To ensure the safety of the population and the delivery of essential humanitarian supplies... the safe passage of a humanitarian convoy to the settlement of Oleshky, Kherson Region, will be facilitated,"

Ukraine has accused Russia of preventing residents from leaving, a claim Moscow denies. The city's population has fallen from around 24,000 before the invasion to approximately 2,000, including up to 50 children, according to Ukrainian and US estimates. Russia's human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova claimed on Monday that most people wishing to leave had already departed "entirely of their own volition."

Former resident Olga, who remains in contact with two families in Oleshky, told AFP: "They've forgotten what bread is. You need flour for bread, and there's not even flour left," highlighting the severe shortages facing those still trapped.