The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has called on the United States not to remain silent in the face of the killings of Ukrainians as a result of Russian attacks. In the evening in a video message on 29 October 2026 The Head of State emphasised that the humanitarian agreements reached through US mediation for the temporarily occupied town of Oleshky in the Kherson region should serve as an example for broader de-escalation. According to the President, Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations regarding the ceasefire, whilst Russian strikes on other regions continue unabated.
- Zelenskyy called on the US not to remain silent about the ongoing killings of Ukrainians by the Russian army.
- The President is insisting that the de-escalation be extended to the whole of Ukraine.
- An agreed ceasefire has been in force in the area around the occupied town of Oleshky since 27 October.
- Ukraine is preparing to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate civilians.
- Deliveries of aid to Oleshky are scheduled to begin on 30 October.
Zelenskyy has appealed to the US over Russian attacks on Ukraine
During his evening address, the President emphasised that Russia continues to attack Ukrainian cities, despite the negotiations and attempts to organise humanitarian missions.
«It is important that America, too, does not remain silent about the killings», — he said Zelensky.
The Head of State emphasised that Russian attacks are ongoing, and that international partners must therefore respond more vigorously to the loss of civilian lives.
The President paid particular attention to the need to strengthen diplomatic pressure on Moscow. In his view, humanitarian agreements should pave the way for a cessation of hostilities across a much larger area.
Zelenskyy emphasised that this is not just about helping the residents of a single settlement, but also about the need to protect people across the whole country.
Ceasefire in Oleshky: what is known about the humanitarian operation
In the temporarily occupied Oleshky A humanitarian operation is underway in the Kherson region, aimed at delivering food and medicines and organising the safe evacuation of the civilian population.
Agreements on a local ceasefire were reached through US mediation. The White House reported that the First Lady had been involved Melania Trump in the preparation of a humanitarian initiative.
The ceasefire came into effect on 27 October at 03:00 Kyiv time. It is due to remain in force until the evening of 1 November.
According to the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, as of the morning of 29 October, the ceasefire had been in place for 54 hours with no recorded breaches.
In the Oleshky district, routes are being cleared of mines to allow humanitarian convoys to pass through. At the same time, consignments of food and other essential items are being prepared.
The delivery of aid is scheduled for 30 October. A Ukrainian delegation, including the Ombudsman, has set off to coordinate the operation.
On the evening of 29 October, a Member of Parliament David Arahamia reported that representatives from Ukraine, the US and Russia had arrived at the point from which the humanitarian aid is due to be sent to Oleshky.
Ukraine is calling on Russia to take further steps to de-escalate the situation
Whilst preparations for the humanitarian mission are under way, Russia continues to shell other Ukrainian regions.
On 29 October, Zelenskyy reported Russian strikes on civilian targets, notably in Dnipro, Chernihiv and Kremenchuk. The President described such attacks as evidence of Moscow’s unwillingness to end the war.
At the same time, the Head of State emphasised that the agreements regarding Oleshky demonstrate that it is possible to ensure humanitarian access with the involvement of international mediators.
According to Zelenskyy, it is necessary to ensure that, «so that Russia would agree to de-escalation», and the relevant measures must apply throughout Ukraine.
The President called on the United States to use its diplomatic influence to bring about a broader cessation of attacks, rather than confining itself to a local humanitarian operation.
As of 29 October, the ceasefire in the Oleshky area remains in place, according to the Ukrainian side. The delivery of aid and the evacuation of civilians remain the next stages of the operation. At the same time, there are no agreements on a general ceasefire across Ukraine.
