Four-Day Pause Set for Oleshky as 2,000 Civilians Await Exit

A four-day pause in fighting is set to begin in the occupied city of Oleshky on October 27.

The White House announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt all military operations in the city starting that date. The arrangement aims to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of approximately 2,000 residents. First Lady Melania Trump’s office confirmed that her representative negotiated the terms directly with both Moscow and Kyiv. Trump stated that residents wishing to leave would receive coordinated transportation to their chosen destination, whether in Russia or Ukraine.

Oleshky has been under Russian control since February 2022, and conditions inside the city have deteriorated sharply. Residents report severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. Some survivors are reportedly subsisting on weeds, boiled grass, and meager rations. Ukrainian officials had previously claimed that Russia rejected earlier proposals for a humanitarian pause. Pope Leo XIV, the United Nations, and EU officials also urged a ceasefire. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, indicated on October 18 that an agreement was nearing completion, though he did not cite the role of the first lady at that time.

Ukraine has spent weeks attempting to secure a civilian evacuation from Oleshky and nearby settlements. Military drones have airdropped emergency food and medical supplies into the town. Lubinets told Reuters on Friday that the upcoming mission includes demining roads into the city and delivering enough aid to meet the needs of all residents. He emphasized that officials intend for the effort to extend beyond a one-time event and beyond the borders of Oleshky.

Separate tensions persist between Kyiv and Washington over satellite connectivity. Ukrainian forces report that Starlink speeds remained capped at roughly 100 miles per hour throughout Friday. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stated that no lifting of restrictions had been observed. The speed cap prevents Ukrainian military equipment, including drones, from maintaining connections at high speeds, which hampers offensive drone operations and interception efforts. President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that he had heard the issue was fixed but would speak to Elon Musk if it was not. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also called Trump to stress the need for full Starlink access for Ukraine.

Relations between the two countries have strained further after Washington lifted sanctions on Russia and began importing Russian diesel. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday that three tankers were en route to the US, with Russian companies capable of supplying 500,000 metric tonnes in October. Russia also launched an overnight barrage on Ukraine, even as Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November.

Earlier rounds of negotiations produced no breakthrough, and the two sides remain far apart on key demands. Russia requires a Ukrainian withdrawal from eastern territory, a drastic reduction in military size, and neutral status that rules out NATO membership. President Vladimir Putin told Russian state television late on Thursday that the lands lost by Kyiv are Russia's historical lands and insisted Moscow would achieve all objectives of its full-scale invasion.