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Evacuees from the Russian-occupied southern Ukrainian town of Oleshky have successfully reached territory controlled by Kyiv. The arrival coincides with the approaching expiration of a localized ceasefire in the Kherson region brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump.
Evacuation from Oleshky and Expiring Ceasefire
Oleshky, located near the front line in the Kherson region, has been occupied by Russian forces since 2022 and faced a severe humanitarian crisis after food deliveries stopped earlier this year. The localized truce allowed about 2,000 remaining civilians to leave out of a pre-invasion population of 24,000. Evacuees were given the option to travel to Russia or go through Belarus to Ukrainian-controlled territory.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated that the complex evacuation effort involved substantial work and included individuals ranging from a 1-year-old baby to a 94-year-old resident, along with pets such as dogs, cats, a parrot, and a raccoon. The ceasefire, which began on Tuesday as the longest since the 2022 invasion, was set to expire on Sunday evening with no extension announced by either side.
Diplomatic Talks and G20 Stance
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul to discuss preparations for a potential three-way summit involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States in the first half of November. Zelenskyy added that they also addressed Black Sea shipping security and working on a grain corridor. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov stated that Russia wants the initial rounds of renewed peace talks to involve solely Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul addressed reporters after the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, where officials skipped their traditional family photo due to objections over Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s presence. Wadephul defended speaking with adversaries, stating that the US and European countries are on the same side and that negotiation with opponents of European security is necessary.
Infrastructure Strikes and Military Actions
Overnight Russian strikes targeted energy infrastructure across Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, and Khmelnytskyi, leaving hundreds of thousands of households without electricity, according to President Zelenskyy. He criticized Russia for exploiting interceptor shortages and urged partners to expedite air defense deliveries. Meanwhile, Russian-backed authorities reported that Ukrainian strikes on Luhansk killed at least four people.
In Russia, Nizhny Novgorod Governor Gleb Nikitin reported a massive drone attack involving more than 100 destroyed drones that caused significant industrial facility damage, which Ukrainian media identified as the Kstovo oil refinery. Additionally, the Ukrainian military claimed it struck a solid rocket fuel factory in Russia’s Rostov region and four military supply depots in occupied areas.
