Russia Refuses to Extend Olishky Truce in Ukraine's Kherson Region
Russia has rejected Ukraine's proposal to extend the humanitarian ceasefire in occupied Oleshky, Kherson region, which ended on 1 November. Nearly 800 people were evacuated during the truce.
Russia has declined to extend the ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, despite a proposal from Ukraine's Foreign Ministry. A Ukrainian official told the AFP news agency, as reported by FRANCE 24. The truce, set up for a humanitarian operation in the town, expired at 23:59 Moscow time. The outcome affects residents who remain and the prospects for further aid deliveries.
End of the truce
The ceasefire began on 27 October 2026 and ended on 1 November, as planned. The two countries' human rights ombudspersons, Ukraine's Dmytro Lubinets and Russia's Yana Lantratova, announced its conclusion. They said both sides had met their commitments and spoke of work on continuing humanitarian missions.
According to the Ukrainian side, Kyiv offered to extend the deadline, but Russia did not agree. Shortly before the truce ended, at 22:01, the Russian Defence Ministry published a statement: "We are not sparing shells and we are not sparing the enemy. The night will be hot, we are working."
Evacuation and the US role
The agreement on the humanitarian operation was reached through the mediation of US First Lady Melania Trump. In a post on the social network X, she said vitally needed aid had been delivered to the area and almost 800 people evacuated during the mission. Trump thanked Russia and Ukraine for their cooperation and expressed hope that Oleshky would become a foundation for lasting peace between the two countries. She did not specify how many people went to Ukrainian-controlled territory and how many to Russia.
Situation at the front
A Ukrainian officer quoted by FRANCE 24 claimed that Russian troops used the pause to replenish units, move ammunition and scout Ukrainian positions with drones. In his assessment, the situation could become worse than before once the truce ends. The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff has also officially confirmed this information.
Oleshky has been under Russian occupation since 2022. This year the humanitarian situation in the town has deteriorated sharply, with residents facing hunger and a shortage of basic necessities.
