The White House confirmed on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a temporary ceasefire in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky. The agreement aims to address a severe humanitarian crisis that has left thousands of civilians struggling for basic survival. Military operations in the area will halt from October 29 to facilitate aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
Oleshky ceasefire and humanitarian conditions
Residents in the southern Ukrainian city, which has been under Russian control since February 2022, report desperate conditions. Severe shortages of food, water, and electricity have forced an estimated 2,000 remaining residents to survive on weeds, boiled grass, and meager rations. The White House stated that the ceasefire was brokered by Melania Trump, who worked directly with leadership on both sides to define the terms.
Melania Trump addressed the evacuation plans in a statement. She noted that residents wishing to leave would receive coordinated transportation. She anticipated that evacuees would choose to go to either Russia or Ukraine, depending on their preferences. Ukraine has been pushing for these evacuations for weeks, occasionally using drones to drop emergency supplies into the town.
Starlink Ukraine network restrictions
While diplomatic efforts focus on Oleshky, Ukrainian military forces continue to report widespread disruptions to the Starlink satellite network. These issues persist despite claims from Donald Trump that Elon Musk had lifted restrictions on the service. The slowdown began last week after Trump and Musk publicly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over continued strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Ukrainian officials state that speeds remain capped at approximately 100 mph. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising Zelenskyy, said there is no evidence that the restrictions have been lifted. He suggested that isolated instances of higher speeds are likely due to SpaceX algorithms rather than a policy change. These restrictions hamper the ability of Ukrainian drones to maintain connections at high speeds, affecting both offensive operations and air defense.
Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have deepened recently. The Starlink slowdown coincides with reports that Washington temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Additionally, Washington lifted sanctions on Russia and began importing Russian diesel, a move Trump sought to lower US energy prices before midterm elections. Maritime data showed a tanker carrying Russian diesel en route to New York on Thursday.
Despite the local agreement in Oleshky, the broader conflict remains intense. Russia launched another overnight barrage against Ukraine on Friday. The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said trilateral talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the US are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November. Previous negotiations have failed to produce a breakthrough, with Moscow demanding Ukraine withdraw from occupied territories and adopt a neutral status.
President Vladimir Putin continued to question Ukraine’s sovereignty in a late Thursday interview. He reiterated claims that the lands lost by Kyiv are Russian historical territory and cited unspecified genetic research to support his view that Russians and Ukrainians are one people. He insisted that Moscow would achieve all objectives of its full-scale invasion.
Source: The Guardian
