Ukraine says Russia used Oleshky truce to reinforce positions; ombudsman says further steps under discussion

In brief

• The humanitarian ceasefire around occupied Oleshky ended on the evening of 1 November after starting on 27 October.
• Ukraine's General Staff says Russian forces used the pause to rotate units, reinforce positions and deliver ammunition.
• Ukrainian officials say Ukrainian units observed the terms, and the ombudsman says talks on repeating similar steps are ongoing.

Truce ends on the evening of 1 November

The ceasefire for a humanitarian operation in Oleshky began at 3 a.m. on 27 October and ran until the evening of 1 November (Росіяни використали "режим тиші" в районі Олешків для зміцнення своїх позицій – Генштаб – Українська правда) (Лубінець: Режим тиші для операції в Олешках завершено, можливе продовження таких кроків – Українська правда). Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced the regime, and Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed it.

Kyiv's accusations

The General Staff says Ukrainian units kept to the agreed terms throughout the pause (Росіяни використали режим тиші в Олешках для посилення своїх позицій, - Генштаб – UNIAN). It also says the humanitarian cargo reached its destination and that Ukrainians who wanted to leave Oleshky returned to territory under Ukrainian control.

The General Staff accuses Russia of using the pause for rotations, fortifying positions, installing anti-drone measures on roads and building up logistics, including ammunition deliveries. Spokesman Maksym Kravchuk of the Pivden grouping of forces said Ukrainian units recorded Russian reconnaissance drone flights and drops from drones during the truce, which he described as attempts to discredit Ukraine's forces (Режим тиші на Херсонщині: РФ намагається дискредитувати Сили оборони – Українська правда). Kravchuk called the Russian claims false.

Evacuation and conditions in the city

Financial Times sources cited by Ukrainian media said residents who agreed to leave would first be taken to Crimea or Russia (Лубінець із делегацією вирушив до Олешок – Українська правда).

Hromadske, citing informed sources, reported that Russian personnel cleared bodies and rubbish from the streets before journalists arrived (Росіяни перед приїздом в Олешки журналістів "чепурили" вулиці та прибирали трупи – ЗМІ – Українська правда). The same outlet reported that about a hundred bodies were stored in the basement of the Oleshky hospital, some since winter, and that the remains could be taken out during the humanitarian mission.

Next steps

The White House said First Lady Melania Trump helped broker the truce. Lubinets said he and Russian ombudsman Yana Lantratova are working on options to repeat similar humanitarian steps and to keep the cooperation mechanism in place.

Read also

• Oleshky Evacuation Under Way as Localized Truce Holds and Aid Convoy Arrives
• Evacuation from occupied Oleshky begins under local truce as Ukrainian troops warn of a possible Russian offensive