Oleshky ceasefire holds as Russian drone sites expand
Marc Beckman, a senior adviser to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, told the Kyiv Independent on October 28 that Russian President Vladimir Putin "wanted very much" for her to participate as the exclusive intermediary for the ceasefire in Oleshky. The Russian military proposed moving the ceasefire forward by two days and expanding its geographic scope beyond the city in Kherson Oblast to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries and evacuation preparations. Ukraine accepted this proposal. The ceasefire, which the White House announced on October 23, entered its second day on October 28 and should last into early November. Oleshky, which had a population of 24,000 before the war, remains under Russian occupation and faces blockades that prevent aid from reaching residents across the Dnipro River.
While the ceasefire holds, Ukrainian forces attacked Russian facilities linked to the military-industrial complex overnight. In Lipetsk, fires broke out in the area of the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant late on October 27 after air defenses engaged. A 2025 investigation by Ukrainska Pravda found the plant supplies Russian defense companies that produce air defense systems, drones, and missiles. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) reported that Russia is building a new site for operating jet-powered attack drones near the Millerovo airfield in the village of Dolotinka. This site sits 20 kilometers east of Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast. HUR estimated that once construction is complete, the site could accommodate up to 100 drone launches per day. The construction of the facility in the Rostov Region may be part of Russia’s preparations to intensify its attacks on Ukrainian territory, particularly during the winter, according to HUR.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Drone models at Millerovo | Geran-4 and Geran-5 |
| Max daily drone launches | 100 |
| Dutch military aid | €500 million |
| UK 2027 support | over £10 billion ($13.3 billion) |
| Dutch non-military aid | €1.2 billion |
International aid arrives as domestic support remains firm
President Zelensky announced a €500 million military aid package from the Netherlands following his meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on October 28. This military support, which the Netherlands prepares this fall, aims to repel Russian air attacks. The announcement follows a Dutch ministerial visit to Kyiv where officials pledged €1.2 billion in non-military aid for economic recovery to be disbursed over the next three years. British Finance Minister John Healey announced that the United Kingdom will provide over 10 billion pounds in support for Ukraine in 2027 because Russia’s illegal invasion poses a serious threat to UK prosperity and security. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the package a symbol of the government’s commitment to ensuring Ukraine has the means to continue its fight against the illegal invasion. The two leaders also discussed the U.S.-mediated peace process in Abu Dhabi, cooperation in the energy and defense sectors, and the Bliksem air defense project, which aims to build an exo-atmospheric interceptor against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) published a survey on October 28 showing that 80% of Ukrainians support continued strikes on Russian refineries even if Washington restricts intelligence sharing or Starlink operations. Only 11% of respondents say Ukraine should pause the attacks, even though Russia strikes the Ukrainian energy grid and civilian facilities. This majority remains firm despite pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Kyiv to stop hitting refineries that fund the Russian war effort. Ukraine reported facing a temporary pause in U.S. intelligence sharing on incoming Russian ballistic missiles, restrictions on Starlink operations, and delays in Patriot air defense missile shipments as Washington ramped up pressure.
Peace talks expected in Abu Dhabi
Zelensky expects trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi with Russia and the U.S. to take place between November 6 and November 10. The location of the talks could still change due to the situation in the Middle East. Zelensky noted that Washington is yet to confirm a date because the administration is waiting for the results of the elections. He expects the U.S. to confirm the schedule around November 4, one day after the U.S. midterms. The Kremlin is also yet to confirm a timeline for these talks. The planned meeting follows a renewed push by the U.S. to revive negotiations that stalled because the Kremlin demands Kyiv cede the Donbas region.
