Aid convoy ready for Oleshky

Ukrainian negotiators confirmed on Thursday that a humanitarian convoy is prepared to enter Oleshky. The localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the southern city has held for three days. Military units have finished clearing landmines from the designated routes. This pause in fighting allows aid to reach approximately 2,000 civilians trapped inside the occupied area. The truce was brokered with the help of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump and Pope Leo XIV.

The conflict in Oleshky has been part of the wider war since Russia launched a full-scale invasion more than four and a half years ago. Previous attempts at ceasefires in this region failed or collapsed quickly. The current arrangement was set to last for six days. Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian ombudsman and head of the negotiating team, stated that the convoy was assembled and ready. He said aid deliveries would begin on Friday. His Russian counterpart, Yana Lantratova, confirmed that both sides were honoring their commitments. Russian engineers were working to clear roads of mines to ensure a safe passage for the supply vehicle.

Belarusian state media reported that Russian and Ukrainian representatives would fly together to Kherson from Homel on Thursday. Officials stated that residents of Oleshky would be able to leave the city for either Russia or Ukraine. The specific logistics for this evacuation had not yet been detailed. Ksenia Arkhipova, a volunteer in Oleshky, told the Associated Press that about 1,000 residents had expressed a desire to leave. She noted that the presence of the Ukrainian delegation was important because many residents feared Russian authorities might use the evacuation to identify people with pro-Ukrainian views or military ties.

The truce has created a rare sense of calm in the nearby Ukrainian-held city of Kherson. Residents, who had previously rushed through streets to avoid drone strikes, were seen lingering in public spaces on Thursday. Nataliia Myronenko, who runs a coffee kiosk in the city, reported a steady stream of customers during lunch and evening hours. She described the pause as a privilege that allowed people to stop looking up at the sky. She noted that while residents still watched their feet for mines, the fear of immediate death from air attacks had lessened.

Deadly attacks continued in other parts of Ukraine despite the localized truce. A jet-powered Russian drone struck two passenger trains at a station in Dnipro on Thursday. Officials said at least 14 people were killed and 14 others were injured. Among the injured was a 40-year-old man who required leg amputations. In the northern city of Chernihiv, a Russian cruise missile killed two 15-year-old girls. In central Ukraine, a Russian drone hit an apartment block in Kremenchuk, killing three civilians. A total of 56 people were injured in these strikes, including 10 children.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that air defense systems downed 1,214 Ukrainian drones overnight. This marked one of the largest drone attacks launched by Kyiv. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated that around half of the drones were heading toward the Russian capital. The Russian government has also been active in diplomatic channels. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to attend a G20 ministerial meeting in Atlanta starting Friday. Tankers carrying Russian diesel are currently sailing to the United States.

Ukrainian officials are focused on securing favorable terms ahead of potential three-way talks with the United States next month. Central Bank Governor Andriy Pyshnyy warned that the country would enter a recession this year. He revised the economic forecast for 2026 downward to a contraction of 0.4 percent from the 1.8 percent growth projected in July. The annual inflation projection was raised to 12.5 percent from 10 percent. Pyshnyy attributed these changes to surging fuel prices and intensified Russian attacks on logistical and production facilities. He noted that metallurgical and ore mining enterprises suffered the greatest losses, while performance also declined in trade and agriculture.

Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the relationship between Russia and the technology sector. He referred to Elon Musk as a real genius and said that Russia was in contact with Musk to coordinate orbiting activities. Putin stated that despite political issues, Russia and its American partners continue to work closely together. Ukraine has reported sudden limits on Starshield, the military-grade version of the Starlink satellite internet service owned by SpaceX. This service serves as the backbone for Ukraine's drone operations and communications systems.