Ukraine and Russia Halt Fire in Oleshky as Kyiv Absorbs Drone Barrage

Ukraine and Russia began a regional ceasefire on Tuesday to facilitate humanitarian aid and evacuations in the occupied town of Oleshky. The halt in fighting is the first major pause in hostilities since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022. While the truce covers Oleshky, both nations continued striking targets elsewhere, including the Ukrainian capital.

Dmytro Lubinets, the parliamentary commissioner for human rights, confirmed that Ukraine is honoring its commitments under the agreement. He noted on Facebook that the deal was reached in coordination with Melania Trump and Russia’s human rights commissioner, Yana Lantratova. Pope Leo also spoke with both presidents to push for the pause. The United States estimates that only a few thousand people remain in Oleshky, down from a prewar population of 24,000.

The town lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region. It has suffered extensive damage from war and flooding following the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka Dam in 2023. Residents report acute shortages of food and medicine. Russia’s Defence Ministry stated it stopped shelling in the direction of Kherson at 4 a.m. Moscow time to prepare for the humanitarian effort.

Despite the local truce, Kyiv faced a massive overnight attack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones. He described the strikes as a serious escalation against Ukrainian logistics. The Southern Bridge and subway infrastructure were hit, forcing a suspension of traffic in the capital.

Zelenskyy confirmed casualties in Kyiv, including strikes on the South Bridge, which serves as a main road link over the Dnipro River. Russian officials said they targeted transport infrastructure in Kyiv, a logistics hub in the Kharkiv region, and industrial facilities elsewhere. They claimed these sites were being used for military purposes.

On the Russian side, two men were killed and six others injured in drone attacks on Bryansk. Regional governor Egor Kovalchuk released the figures on Telegram. In the Russian-controlled part of the Zaporizhzhia region, a drone struck a bus, killing one person and injuring 30, local officials said. Both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.

Diplomatic efforts continue as White House envoys speak to both sides. Zelenskyy announced on Friday that negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States agreed to meet in Abu Dhabi in the first half of November. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday regarding the war.

Stubb’s office described the call as frank and substantive, noting that neighboring countries are directly affected by the conflict. An aide for Zelenskyy confirmed he was briefed by the Finnish and Norwegian leaders after their conversation with Putin.