Oleshky Truce To Halt Fighting For Aid, Evacuations

The White House announced Friday that military operations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky will pause on Oct. 27, allowing aid deliveries and preparations to evacuate civilians stranded in the southern Ukrainian city. Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since February 2022.

Officials said the truce was brokered by first lady Melania Trump, whose representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to set terms. "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," Melania Trump said.

An estimated 2,000 people remain in Oleshky, where residents report shortages of food, water and electricity. Some are surviving on weeds, boiled grass, bread and small rations. Ukrainian officials previously said Russia rejected earlier calls for a humanitarian pause, while Pope Leo XIV, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the United Nations, EU officials and the Council of Europe had urged a ceasefire.

Ukraine's ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, told Reuters on Friday that the operation would include demining roads into the town, delivering food and evacuating civilians. "A sufficient quantity of humanitarian aid will be delivered to meet the needs of everyone who requires it," Lubinets said, adding that officials want the effort to continue beyond a single event and beyond Oleshky. Ukrainian forces have previously used drones to airdrop food and medical supplies.

Ukrainian officials reported that Starlink speeds stayed capped at about 100mph on Friday. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising Zelenskyy, said no lifting of restrictions had been observed. The slowdown began last week after President Donald Trump and Starlink founder Elon Musk publicly criticized Zelenskyy over strikes on Russian oil refineries; both denied responsibility. Trump told reporters: "I've heard it was fixed, but if it's not, I'll speak to him." British prime minister Andy Burnham told Trump in a call that Ukraine needs full access to Starlink.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November. Russia's demands include a Ukrainian withdrawal from eastern territory, a reduction in Ukraine's military size and neutral status ruling out Nato membership.

Russia launched another overnight barrage on Ukraine. Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said three tankers were heading to the US and that Russian companies could supply 500,000 metric tonnes in October.