2,000 civilians to leave Oleshky under Oct. 27 truce

An estimated 2,000 people remain in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, where a new ceasefire takes effect on October 27. The White House announced on Friday that both nations agreed to stop all military operations in the town to facilitate aid delivery and civilian evacuation. This arrangement follows months of deteriorating conditions that have left residents dependent on limited rations.

Oleshky has been under Russian control since February 2022. Local accounts describe severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. Some residents reported surviving on weeds, boiled grass, and bread. The humanitarian pause aims to address these immediate needs by allowing coordinated support and transportation for those who wish to leave. First lady Melania Trump’s office stated that her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to finalize the terms.

Melania Trump indicated that evacuees would have the option to travel to either Russia or Ukraine. She said, "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." This diplomatic role contrasts with earlier reports from Ukrainian officials who said Russia had rejected previous calls for a pause. Pope Leo XIV, the United Nations, and EU officials had also urged a truce in the weeks leading up to this announcement.

Ukraine’s ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, had signaled that an agreement was near on October 18 without citing the first lady’s involvement. On Friday, Lubinets detailed the operational scope of the mission. It includes demining the roads into the town, delivering food, and evacuating civilians. He stated, "A sufficient quantity of humanitarian aid will be delivered to meet the needs of everyone who requires it." Officials expressed a desire to extend the effort beyond a single event and beyond Oleshky alone.

Ukrainian forces have used drones to airdrop emergency food and medical supplies into the town in recent weeks. The new agreement provides a more structured framework for these efforts. While the ceasefire focuses on Oleshky, regional tensions remain high. Ukrainian forces reported widespread disruption to the Starlink satellite network, despite claims by President Donald Trump that restrictions had been lifted. The slowdown began last week after public friction between Trump and Elon Musk over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries.

Ukrainian officials said internet speeds remained capped at about 100 miles per hour throughout Friday. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, noted that no lifting of restrictions had been observed. This cap impedes Ukrainian military equipment, including drones, from maintaining connection at high speeds. It hampers offensive drone operations and efforts to intercept incoming Russian attacks. Trump told reporters on Friday, "I've heard it was fixed, but if it's not, I'll speak to him."

British prime minister Andy Burnham emphasized to Trump in a phone call that Ukraine needs full access to Starlink, according to Downing Street. The connectivity issue, combined with a temporary suspension of US intelligence sharing, has strained relations between Kyiv and Washington. Tensions escalated when the US lifted sanctions on Russia and began importing Russian diesel to lower domestic energy prices ahead of midterm elections. Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Friday that three tankers were heading to the US and that Russian companies could supply 500,000 metric tonnes in October.

Russia launched another overnight barrage on Ukraine while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral talks are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November. Earlier rounds of these talks produced no breakthrough. Moscow continues to demand a Ukrainian withdrawal from eastern territory, a drastic reduction in its military size, and neutral status that excludes Nato membership. President Vladimir Putin told a state television reporter late Thursday that the lands lost by Kyiv are Russia's historical lands and insisted Moscow would achieve all objectives of its full-scale invasion.