Oleshky Fighting Stops October 27 to Let 2,000 Civilians Leave

Russia and Ukraine will pause military operations in Oleshky on October 27 to allow aid workers to enter and civilians to leave. The White House confirmed the agreement on Friday, stating that all fighting in the southern Ukrainian city will halt to support the evacuation.

Approximately 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, which has been under Russian occupation since February 2022. Residents describe severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. Some inhabitants report surviving on weeds, boiled grass, and small rations of bread.

First Lady Melania Trump brokered the truce, according to the White House. Her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to establish the terms. Trump said residents who choose to evacuate will receive coordinated transportation to their chosen destination. She noted that some may go to Russia and others to Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials had previously claimed that Russia rejected earlier calls for a humanitarian pause. Pope Leo XIV, the United Nations, the European Union, and the Council of Europe had all urged a ceasefire. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, told Reuters on Friday that the mission will include demining roads into the town and delivering food.

Lubinets said officials aim to go beyond a one-time event and extend efforts beyond Oleshky alone. He stated that a sufficient quantity of humanitarian aid will be delivered to meet the needs of everyone who requires it.

Ukrainian forces continue to report disruption to the Starlink satellite network despite claims by President Donald Trump that restrictions were lifted. The slowdown began last week after Trump and Elon Musk criticized President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over strikes on Russian oil refineries. Both parties have denied responsibility for the issue.

Trump told reporters on Friday that he believes the problem was fixed but would speak to Musk if it was not. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham stressed to Trump during a phone call that Ukraine needs full access to Starlink. Ukrainian officials said speeds stayed capped at about 100 miles per hour throughout Friday.

Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising Zelenskyy, said no lifting of restrictions had been observed. The speed cap prevents Ukrainian military equipment, including drones, from staying connected at high speeds. This limits offensive drone operations and efforts to intercept incoming Russian attacks.

Tensions between Ukraine and the US have risen due to the Starlink issue and Washington's temporary suspension of intelligence sharing. Relations strained further when Washington lifted sanctions on Russia and began importing Russian diesel. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said three tankers were heading to the US and that Russian companies could supply 500,000 metric tonnes of diesel in October.

Russia launched another overnight barrage on Ukraine on Friday. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November. Putin told a state television reporter on Thursday that the lands lost by Kyiv are Russia's historical lands and that Moscow would achieve all its invasion objectives.