Oleshky Ceasefire Starts Oct 27 After 2,000 Residents Survive on Grass

An estimated 2,000 civilians remain in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied city in southern Ukraine where residents have reportedly survived on weeds, boiled grass, and bread since February 2022. The White House announced on Friday that military operations in the city will cease starting October 27 to facilitate aid delivery and civilian evacuation.

First Lady Melania Trump brokered the agreement, with her representative working directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Trump stated that residents wishing to leave would receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination, noting that some may choose to go to Russia while others head to Ukraine.

This local truce follows months of stalled negotiations. Ukrainian officials previously claimed Russia rejected earlier calls for a humanitarian pause. Pope Leo XIV, the United Nations, and the Council of Europe had all urged a ceasefire. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, indicated on October 18 that an agreement was near but did not attribute a role to the first lady at that time.

Ukraine has spent weeks attempting to evacuate civilians from Oleshky and nearby settlements, using drones to airdrop emergency food and medical supplies. Lubinets told Reuters on Friday that the upcoming mission includes demining roads, delivering aid, and evacuating people. He said officials intend for the effort to extend beyond a single event and beyond the city limits.

Simultaneously, Ukrainian forces report continued disruption to the Starlink satellite network. Speeds remained capped at approximately 100mph throughout Friday, according to Ukrainian officials. This limit prevents military equipment, including drones, from staying connected during high-speed movement, which hampers offensive operations and the interception of incoming Russian attacks.

The connectivity issues follow public criticism from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk regarding Ukrainian 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. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham called Trump to stress the need for full Starlink access, according to Downing Street.

Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have deepened due to the Starlink limits and a temporary suspension of US intelligence sharing. These strains emerged after the US lifted sanctions on Russia and began importing Russian diesel to lower domestic energy prices before midterm elections. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said three tankers were heading to the US, with Russian companies set to supply 500,000 metric tonnes in October.