White House confirms October 27 ceasefire in Oleshky

The White House announced on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt military operations in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky starting on October 27. The ceasefire is designed to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid and to facilitate the evacuation of civilians who remain in the city.

Oleshky, located in southern Ukraine, has been under Russian control since February 2022. Approximately 2,000 people are estimated to still be living in the city. Residents have reported severe shortages of food, water, and electricity, with some surviving on boiled grass, weeds, and small bread rations.

First Lady Melania Trump is credited with brokering the agreement. Her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to establish the terms of the truce. Trump stated that residents wishing to leave will receive coordinated support and transportation to their chosen destination. She noted that she expects some civilians to travel to Russia while others head to Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials have pushed for a civilian evacuation from Oleshky and nearby settlements for weeks. In recent days, Ukrainian forces used drones to airdrop emergency food and medical supplies into the town. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s ombudsman, said on Friday that the mission will involve demining the roads leading into the town, delivering food, and evacuating civilians.

Lubinets stated that a sufficient quantity of humanitarian aid will be delivered to meet the needs of all residents. He added that officials intend for the effort to extend beyond a one-time event and beyond the single city of Oleshky. This development follows a period where Ukrainian officials claimed Russia rejected earlier calls for a humanitarian pause.

The agreement comes after various international figures urged for a ceasefire. Pope Leo XIV discussed the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the United Nations, EU officials, and the Council of Europe. As recently as October 18, Lubinets indicated that an agreement was near, though he did not mention a role for the first lady at that time.

Separately, Ukrainian forces reported continued disruption to the Starlink satellite network despite claims that restrictions had been lifted. The slowdown began last week after President Donald Trump and Elon Musk publicly criticized Zelenskyy over strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump told reporters on Friday that he had heard the issue was fixed but would speak to Musk if it was not.

Ukrainian officials said data speeds remained 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 maintaining connections at high speeds, which hampers offensive operations and interception efforts.

The Starlink issue has contributed to a decline in relations between Ukraine and the United States. Tensions also rose when Washington lifted sanctions on Russia and began importing Russian diesel to lower US energy prices before 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 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 drastic reduction in military size, and neutral status that rules out NATO membership. President Vladimir 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 objectives of its full-scale invasion.