Immediately after the humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky—which was in effect from October 27 to November 1, 2026—the Ukrainian Defense Forces recorded a large-scale movement of Russian troops to the occupied part of the Kherson region. According to Yaroslav Moroz, head of the unmanned systems branch of the 34th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy, as reported by RBC-Ukraine citing Krym.Realii, more than a thousand military personnel were transferred to the left bank under the cover of silence. The Ukrainian side claims that Russian troops have returned to the positions from which they had been consistently pushed back over the past six months.
Shift of the Contact Line by 20 Kilometers
A key conclusion drawn by the 34th Brigade concerns the change in the balance of power on the left bank of the Kherson region. Before the introduction of the silence regime, according to the Ukrainian military, the Defense Forces had expanded the engagement zone, pushed the enemy back, and cut off their logistics. Following the humanitarian window, Moroz states, Russian troops effectively moved 20 kilometers closer to the contact line and dug in at previously lost positions. The brigade does not rule out that the Russian army may be preparing for an offensive on Kherson, while Ukrainian defenders, according to them, are fully prepared for any advancement attempts.
A Humanitarian Hospital as an Ammunition Depot
A separate block of observations concerns the use of civilian infrastructure. According to Moroz, Russian troops brought a significant amount of ammunition and equipment into the Oleshky hospital. The Ukrainian side points out that this was done intentionally: the building, where local residents receive treatment, is not subject to strikes, making it a convenient shelter for logistics. «They arrived directly in vehicles, just as it was in 2022, and then when the vehicles left, we tracked all of this, and significantly fewer vehicles left, significantly fewer personnel left,» Moroz said, describing the registered imbalance between the arrival and departure of columns.
Current Situation and Prospects for Humanitarian Missions
At the time of publication, no massive assaults by Russian troops have been recorded; sporadic movements of personnel and equipment are observed, which, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, are promptly eliminated. The humanitarian regime in Oleshky itself, implemented under the direct coordination of US First Lady Melania Trump, made it possible to deliver critical aid to local residents and evacuate about 800 civilians who were under threat due to hostilities and occupation. Following the end of the silence, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets announced that Ukraine is considering conducting new humanitarian missions in the temporarily occupied territories.
