Ukraine says Russia used Oleshky ceasefire pause for troop movements
The Southern Group of Forces accuses Russian troops of rotating units and fortifying positions during the humanitarian window in Kherson Oblast.
By Giovanni Serrano ·
Russian forces used the recent ceasefire in Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, to move troops and improve defensive positions, according to Ukrainian military officials. Maksym Kravchuk, spokesperson for the Pivden Group of Forces, stated that the pause was intended for humanitarian aid but was exploited for military preparation. He described Russian claims of Ukrainian violations as false.
The White House announced on October 23 that First Lady Melania Trump had secured a ceasefire agreement in the occupied area. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, confirmed the start of the truce at 03:00 Kyiv time on October 27. The Russian Defence Ministry also acknowledged the introduction of the ceasefire.
During the agreed pause, Kravchuk said Russian units rotated into the area and fortified their positions. He added that they installed anti-drone protection on roads, strengthened logistics, and brought in ammunition. Ukrainian forces recorded these actions while monitoring the situation to prevent threats.
Kravchuk noted that Ukrainian units repeatedly spotted Russian reconnaissance drones during the ceasefire. He also documented Russian troops dropping munitions from drones, a tactic he said was designed to discredit Ukrainian forces and portray them as violating the agreement. The Pivden Group of Forces emphasized that the ceasefire was strictly for civilian assistance and evacuation.
The agreement was set to expire at 22:59 on November 1. On October 31, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the humanitarian operation had been successfully completed. All evacuated Ukrainian citizens crossed into Chernihiv Oblast. The military stated it was tracking Russian actions to prevent further provocations.
The ceasefire framework allowed for the movement of civilians to Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ukrainian officials maintained that their units were abiding by the agreements. They recorded Russian provocations to support their position that the truce was being honored by the Ukrainian side.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
