US-brokered ceasefire starts in Ukrainian town facing starvation
SPY•A local ceasefire began around Russian-occupied Oleshky, intended to allow aid deliveries and residents to leave, and is due to last until November 1. Russia and Ukraine said they were abiding by it, while Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least one person, local officials said.
1. Ceasefire around Oleshky
The ceasefire around Oleshky began at 3 a.m. Ukrainian time on Tuesday. Brokered by US first lady Melania Trump with the involvement of Pope Leo, it is intended to allow aid into the town and residents to leave; humanitarian corridors could require road demining and take several days.
2. Residents face shortages
Residents have reported severe shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies in the town, which has been largely cut off from running water, electricity, gas and central heating. The United States has said only a few thousand people remain from Oleshky’s prewar population of 24,000. Some residents say they have survived on a cup of rice or buckwheat a day.
3. Strikes hit Kyiv
The ceasefire does not apply elsewhere. Russian overnight strikes on Kyiv damaged a university campus and the Southern Bridge and killed at least one person, local officials said; Zelenskiy described the attacks as “a serious escalation” against Ukrainian logistics. A Ukrainian military source said the bridge was hit by four Iskander ballistic missiles.
