Ukraine says Russia fortified defenses during Oleshky ceasefire
Kyiv alleges Moscow used the six-day humanitarian pause to move troops and stockpile ammunition, despite evacuating nearly 800 civilians.
By Ethan Cook ·
Nearly 800 people left the Russian-held town of Oleshky during a six-day ceasefire that ended Sunday at 2100 GMT. That figure was announced by US first lady Melania Trump, who helped broker the pause alongside Pope Leo. The agreement was designed to allow aid deliveries and civilian evacuations from the frontline location.
The truce began on October 27. It marked the longest local pause in fighting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. The primary goal was to create a humanitarian corridor for residents of the southern town.
Ukraine’s General Staff assessed the period differently on Monday. The military command stated that Russian forces used the lull in combat to reinforce their military positions. According to the General Staff, Russian units rotated into the area and fortified their lines. They also expanded anti-drone measures along roads and increased logistics activity, which included the delivery of ammunition.
“The enemy, by contrast, used the humanitarian pause to improve its positions,” the General Staff wrote in a statement on X. The Ukrainian military said its own units observed the ceasefire and acted only within the agreed framework.
Local commanders are now warning residents of increased risks. The 34th Separate Marine Brigade “Borysfen” posted a video on Facebook urging people in the Kherson region to pay attention to air raid sirens. The brigade stated that Russia had used the ceasefire to prepare and strengthen its capabilities. They noted there were reasons to expect an intensification of hostilities.
Hostilities resumed quickly after the expiration. Yaroslav Shanko, head of the Kherson City Military Administration, reported a drone strike on the center of Kherson on Monday. The city sits on the west bank of the Dnipro River, opposite Oleshky. No casualties were reported from that specific attack.
Oleksandr Prokudin, the governor of Kherson region, said Russian forces shelled and attacked 16 settlements in Ukrainian-controlled parts of the region. This occurred in the 24 hours leading up to 0400 GMT on Monday. The attacks involved shells, drones, and aircraft. Ukraine’s Ombudsman for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, had said on Sunday that both sides upheld their obligations during the duration of the pause.
