Oleshky Truce: Ceasefire Starts October 27 as Starlink Access Remains Limited

Ukrainian residents in the occupied city of Oleshky will see a halt to military operations beginning October 27. The White House announced the local ceasefire on Friday, citing a worsening humanitarian situation. This pause allows for aid delivery and the evacuation of approximately 2,000 civilians who remain in the southern Ukrainian town. The arrangement aims to stabilize conditions for those struggling with shortages of food, water, and electricity.

First Lady Melania Trump brokered the agreement, with her representative working directly with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to define the terms. She stated that residents choosing to leave will receive coordinated transportation to their preferred destination, whether that is Russia or Ukraine. Ukrainian officials had previously described the conditions as desperate, noting that some residents survived on boiled grass and weeds before this arrangement was reached.

The humanitarian mission will include demining roads into the town and delivering emergency supplies. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's ombudsman, told Reuters that the goal is to meet the needs of everyone who requires aid. He emphasized that officials want this effort to extend beyond a single event and potentially beyond Oleshky alone. This follows weeks of Ukrainian efforts to use drones to airdrop food and medical supplies into the area.

Despite the truce, technical friction remains between the two nations. Ukrainian forces reported that Starlink satellite speeds stayed capped at about 100 mph on Friday. Serhii Beskrestnov, a military expert advising President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said no lifting of restrictions had been observed. This limit prevents high-speed military equipment, including drones, from maintaining a connection, which hampers both offensive operations and the interception of Russian attacks.

The dispute over internet access has added to strained relations between Kyiv and Washington. President Donald Trump claimed that Elon Musk had lifted restrictions, yet both Trump and Musk denied direct responsibility for the ongoing slowdown. Trump told reporters on Friday that if the issue was not fixed, he would speak with Musk. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham also called Trump to stress the need for full Starlink access for Ukraine.

Broader diplomatic talks are expected to resume in Abu Dhabi in November, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. However, Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on key issues. Russian demands include a Ukrainian withdrawal from eastern territory, a drastic reduction in military size, and neutral status to rule out NATO membership. President Vladimir Putin reiterated on state television that the lands held by Russia are historical Russian lands, insisting Moscow would achieve its invasion objectives.