Russia launches 280 drones at Ukraine as local ceasefire begins in Oleshky

Russia and Ukraine began a localised ceasefire on 27 October to allow a humanitarian operation to start in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky. The pause covers only that location, while Russian attacks on other parts of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, have carried on. Fighting continues even as a narrow humanitarian exception is in place.

Overnight attack

Overnight, Russia launched 16 ballistic missiles and more than 280 drones. At least 15 people were injured in Kyiv. Attacks also hit the Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, Sumy, Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, described the strikes as a serious escalation in Russia's operation against Ukrainian logistics. He said that almost everywhere the targets were the energy sector, logistics and ordinary urban infrastructure.

Zelenskyy on air defence

He argued that the artificial and prolonged delays in delivering interceptor packages for Patriot and Nasams air defence systems are directly helping Russia achieve the aims of its campaign. In his words, every such delay means another Russian strike on some facility. He added that strikes are happening every day and that Russia keeps taking new steps towards escalation.

In Kyiv, activists held placards at a rally in support of the residents of Oleshky.

The Guardian's live Europe coverage on Tuesday also follows developments in Serbia after Sunday's parliamentary elections, and in France, where proposals have been put forward to end student protests.