Russia's Defence Ministry on Monday accused Ukraine of repeatedly striking the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine with artillery and drones ahead of a planned local ceasefire this week, saying the attacks had thwarted the delivery of food and medicine and stopped people leaving, Reuters reported on October 26. The accusation is the Russian ministry's claim, attributed as such: Reuters said it could not independently verify the assertion, and there was no immediate response from Ukraine.

Source: Reuters, Oct 26

The ministry said in a statement on Monday that Ukraine had struck the town 18 times with artillery fire and carried out more than 120 drone attacks on it and the main roads around it in the last week, since October 19, Reuters reported. Ukraine has in the past accused Russia of not letting aid in or people out of the town, Reuters noted.

Source: Reuters, Oct 26

18 artillery strikesRussia's Defence Ministry said Ukraine struck Oleshky 18 times with artillery in the week since October 19 — the ministry's claim, not independently verified
120+ drone attacksDrone attacks the ministry said Ukraine carried out on the town and the main roads around it in the same week
October 27When the local ceasefire agreed by Ukraine and Russia is due to take effect, allowing aid deliveries and evacuations

A ceasefire brokered for a town short of food and medicine

Ukraine and Russia said on Friday they had agreed on a ceasefire in Oleshky that would go into effect on October 27, allowing the delivery of aid and the evacuation of residents through humanitarian corridors, Reuters reported. The agreement was announced on October 23 and brokered by US first lady Melania Trump, with the additional involvement of Pope Leo, as Washington seeks to revive broader peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, Reuters said in a separate explainer on October 26.

Source: Reuters explainer, Oct 26

Oleshky lies on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in Ukraine's southern Kherson region, opposite Kherson city, which is held by Ukrainian forces, and Russian troops seized it during the first days of their February 2022 invasion, Reuters said. The town suffered extensive war damage and was hit hard by flooding after the destruction of the nearby Kakhovka dam in 2023, and the United States has said only a few thousand people remain there, from a prewar population of 24,000, with severe shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies reported, according to Reuters.

Source: Reuters explainer, Oct 26

What is solid

  • Ukraine and Russia said on Friday they had agreed a local ceasefire in Oleshky due to take effect on October 27, for aid deliveries and evacuations through humanitarian corridors, Reuters reported
  • The agreement was announced on October 23 and brokered by US first lady Melania Trump with the involvement of Pope Leo, Reuters reported

What is only claimed

  • Russia's Defence Ministry claim that Ukraine struck Oleshky 18 times with artillery and carried out more than 120 drone attacks since October 19 — Reuters could not independently verify it and Ukraine had not immediately responded
  • Each side's account of who has blocked aid and evacuations: Russia said Ukrainian strikes thwarted deliveries; Ukraine has in the past accused Russia of not letting aid in or people out, Reuters reported

Whether the local ceasefire begins as planned on Tuesday will be the first test of the arrangement. Awaaz Punjab will update this story if Ukraine responds to the Russian ministry's accusation or if the humanitarian corridors open as agreed.