Oleshky ceasefire starts Oct. 27 to aid 2,000 residents

The White House announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine will halt military operations in Oleshky on October 27. The agreement aims to deliver aid and evacuate approximately 2,000 civilians from the southern Ukrainian city. The ceasefire follows months of escalating humanitarian pressure in the area.

Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since February 2022. Residents report severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. Some survivors are subsisting on weeds, boiled grass, and limited bread rations. The White House stated that First Lady Melania Trump brokered the deal. A representative for Trump worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to finalize the terms.

Trump said residents who choose to leave will receive coordinated transportation to their preferred destination. She noted that some civilians may go to Russia while others head to Ukraine. Ukrainian officials had previously claimed Russia rejected earlier calls for a pause. Pope Leo XIV, the United Nations, and EU officials also urged a truce in recent weeks.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, said on Friday that the mission includes demining roads, delivering food, and evacuating people. He stated that sufficient aid will be provided to meet the needs of everyone in the city. Lubinets added that officials want the effort to extend beyond Oleshky and avoid being a one-off event. Ukraine has used drones to airdrop emergency supplies into the town for weeks.

Ukrainian forces continue to report disruptions to the Starlink satellite network despite US President Donald Trump's claim that Elon Musk lifted restrictions. The slowdown began last week after Trump and Musk criticized Zelenskyy over strikes on Russian oil refineries. Both leaders denied responsibility for the service cap. Ukrainian officials said speeds stayed capped at 100 mph throughout Friday.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising Zelenskyy, said no lifting of the restrictions had been observed. The cap prevents Ukrainian drones and equipment from staying connected at high speeds, which hampers offensive operations and interception efforts. Trump told reporters on Friday that he would speak to Musk if the issue was not fixed. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also stressed the need for full Starlink access to Trump in a phone call.

Russia launched another overnight barrage on Ukraine while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral talks will resume in Abu Dhabi in November. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said three tankers are heading to the US, with companies potentially supplying 500,000 metric tonnes in October. Putin told a state television reporter late Thursday that the lands lost by Kyiv are Russia's historical lands and that Moscow will achieve its invasion objectives.