800 evacuated, but Kyiv says Russia fortified Oleshky during truce
Ukraine's military claims Moscow used the six-day pause to rotate troops and expand anti-drone measures, despite claims that both sides kept their word.
By Layla Edwards ·
Ukrainian military leaders stated on Monday that Russian forces spent the recent six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the southern town of Oleshky reinforcing their defensive lines. The pause, which ended at 21:00 GMT on Sunday, was the longest local break in fighting since the 2022 invasion.
The truce began on October 27. It was brokered with the involvement of US First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo. The primary goal was to facilitate the delivery of aid and the evacuation of civilians from the frontline town.
According to General Staff data, Russian units rotated into the area and fortified their positions during the break. Military observers noted an expansion of anti-drone measures along local roads and increased logistics activity, including the delivery of ammunition. The General Staff said these actions contradicted the humanitarian nature of the agreement.
Melania Trump reported on social media that nearly 800 people were evacuated from Oleshky during the ceasefire. She highlighted the successful movement of civilians as a key achievement of the pause.
Ukraine’s Ombudsman for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, offered a contrasting assessment. Writing on Telegram on Sunday, he stated that both sides upheld their obligations throughout the period. However, the 34th Separate Marine Brigade, known as Borysfen, issued a video warning on Facebook that Russia had used the time to prepare for future operations.
Hostilities resumed immediately after the truce expired. Yaroslav Shanko, head of the Kherson City Military Administration, reported a drone strike in the center of Kherson on Monday. The city sits on the west bank of the Dnipro River, directly opposite Oleshky. No casualties were reported from that specific attack.
Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of Kherson region, said Russian forces shelled 16 settlements in Ukrainian-held territory in the 24 hours leading up to 04:00 GMT on Monday. The attacks involved artillery, drones, and aircraft. The 34th Separate Marine Brigade told residents to maintain alertness, citing reasons to expect an intensification of hostilities.
Source: KOYY
