Ceasefire in Oleshky: Russian forces use humanitarian window to move armor and remove bodies

Russian forces used a six-day ceasefire in Oleshky, Kherson Oblast, to move heavy armor and rotate infantry, according to video footage released by Sky News. The pause in fighting was established to allow civilians to leave the occupied town, but Ukrainian military officials say the lull provided a rare opportunity for Moscow to strengthen its hold on the area without immediate Ukrainian fire.

The ceasefire ran from 03:00 on October 27 until 22:59 on November 1. During this window, Sky News filmed Russian vehicles moving through the streets of Oleshky. Dmytro Pulinets, the commander of the 34th Separate Marine Brigade, noted that such movement would have been difficult previously. “Now they have the opportunity to do so. This has been happening constantly over the past few days, they’re moving along it day and night,” Pulinets said.

Ukrainian monitors observed that Russian soldiers carried large rucksacks into houses and buildings with basements. The troops also moved into damaged structures that had been burned out. Pulinets stated that his unit saw Russians restore artillery systems, reclaim lost positions, and build up fuel supplies. He added that the brigade also saw increased aerial reconnaissance capabilities during the truce.

The humanitarian mission involved evacuating residents to unoccupied Ukraine via a route through Russia and Belarus. On October 31, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the operation was complete and that all evacuated citizens had crossed the border into Chernihiv Oblast. However, Sky News footage showed Russian soldiers removing bodies from a local hospital morgue. The channel reported that the bodies were placed in double bags and loaded onto a truck.

Residents told reporters that the deceased had died in violent circumstances rather than from natural causes. Sky News correspondent Stuart Ramsay reported that Russian forces had not allowed residents to bury the dead during the truce. Another drone video showed soldiers carrying white boxes and sacks of food rations intended for civilians, taking them away for their own use. Sky News described this activity as separate from the humanitarian mission.

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that Russian forces used the ceasefire to rotate units and strengthen anti-drone protection along roads. The Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets announced the end of the ceasefire on the evening of November 1, stating that both sides had fulfilled their obligations. Pulinets expressed mixed feelings about the outcome, acknowledging the vital need to evacuate civilians while warning that the Russian buildup will create significant work for his brigade once the fighting resumes.