Ukraine said Russian forces resumed attacks on Kherson Monday after a local ceasefire that enabled hundreds to leave Oleshky ended, and city officials reported two drone strikes and two injuries.
Yaroslav Shanko, head of the Kherson city administration, said a Russian-launched drone struck a medical facility in the city center Monday morning. The administration later reported another drone strike on Kherson’s outskirts, wounding a 62-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man.
AFP reported that the ceasefire ran from Tuesday through Sunday, with neither side reporting a breach. The pause enabled a humanitarian mission to Russian-held Oleshky and the departure of hundreds of civilians. EconoTimes previously reported on the ceasefire taking effect as the mission began.
Russian human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova and Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets visited Oleshky during the operation, AFP reported. They delivered aid and arranged civilian departures. Evacuees went to Ukrainian-controlled territory or to Crimea, which Moscow annexed.
A senior Ukrainian figure told AFP Sunday that Moscow had rejected Kyiv’s offer to extend the truce. Ukraine’s military accused Russian forces of strengthening positions during the pause. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that such activity was a “completely normal practice” and alleged Ukrainian forces had used earlier pauses to regroup, AFP reported. The Kremlin said it had no similar missions planned at present.
AFP reported that U.S.-led talks between Russia and Ukraine are expected to resume in November, with Abu Dhabi as the expected host.
