Edward Marchesi Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has again appealed to Moscow, urging a diplomatic approach that he believes should culminate in a face-to-face meeting with Vladimir Putin . The call comes as Ukrainian forces claim to have inflicted record losses on the enemy over the past month, recapturing more territory than Russia was able to occupy.
Oleshky's Truce: October 27 to November 1
The ceasefire, established for the Ukrainian town of Oleshky in the Kherson region, came into effect on the night of October 27 and ended at 22:59 PM local time (21:59 PM GMT) on November 1. During the agreed period, the parties fulfilled their commitments, allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid and the evacuation of trapped civilians .
Evacuation operations and humanitarian support
According to human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets , Russian authorities have rejected all extension proposals made by Kiev, but the six-day window has allowed them to move 167 people from other localities in the Kherson area to areas under Ukrainian control, as well as freeing several residents of Oleshky.
US First Lady Melania Trump celebrated the X initiative, calling it “the starting point for a lasting peace.”
Cross-accusations and escalation on the front
In parallel with the ceasefire, hostilities have not stopped. Kiev accuses Moscow of hitting the energy infrastructure of Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, and Khmelnytskyi , leaving hundreds of thousands of families without electricity as winter sets in. In response, Ukrainian forces said they struck the Kamensky plant in Russia's Rostov region, a missile production facility, and destroyed a Pantsir-S2 system and an S-400 Triumph command vehicle.
Incidents during the truce
Russian authorities claimed that a drone shot down a civilian car near Oleshky, injuring a woman born in 1986 and a man born in 1996. Russian Ambassador Rodion Miroshnik described the event as a ceasefire violation. Kiev rejected the accusation, stating that its troops strictly observed the agreements, while South Ukrainian forces spokesman Maksym Kravchuk denounced the redeployment of Russian units, the installation of anti-drone measures, and the replenishment of ammunition during the pause.
Diplomacy in progress: from Moscow to Istanbul
Meanwhile, the Kremlin reiterated that Putin has never refused to speak with Zelensky, inviting him to travel to Moscow for a dialogue. The Ukrainian leader, already in Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , confirmed his willingness to meet Putin on Turkish soil, hoping that Ankara will act as a facilitator. Pope Leo XIV expressed, in an Angelus address, his hope that humanitarian cooperation with Oleshky will spur new peace initiatives.
The role of technology and communications
A further element of tension emerged when the Ukrainian Air Force reported a possible cyberattack on the Air Alert warning app . The warning indicated that the app could provide incorrect information due to hostile influences, but denied any radiation danger. Authorities urged the public to follow official warning channels only.