Ukraine war live: White House praises Melania as Kyiv clarifies ceasefire details

The localised ceasefire for the Russian-occupied city will reportedly begin on October 29

Ukraine war live: White House praises Melania as Kyiv clarifies ceasefire details

Trump says Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declines to say if they spoke

The White House has praised Melania Trump for reportedly securing a ceasefire for the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, where up to 2,000 residents are cut off from world and facing starvation.

Russia has agreed to pause all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway, according to the White House.

The localised ceasefire will begin on October 29.

A post on the White House’s social media account said: “Our incredible @FLOTUS Melania Trump has forged a ceasefire in war-torn Oleshky. Peace through strength.”

“The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a frontline war city on the brink of disaster,” the First Lady said. “Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water.

“The people of Oleshky have limited electricity, live amid mined roads, and endure regular military attacks. It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible.”

Melania Trump claims to have secured ceasefire for single Ukrainian town in surprising peace breakthrough

Melania Trump says she has secured a ceasefire for a Ukrainian city that was until now cut off from the world and facing starvation.

The Russian-occupied city of Oleshky is located at the frontline and is made up of 2,000 residents who have faced an ongoing blockade restricting food and aid.

But the First Lady said on Friday that Russia has agreed to pause all military action in the town to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway, according to the White House.

Watch: Trump says Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declines to say if they spoke

Trump says Musk restored Ukraine's Starlink access, declines to say if they spoke

Burnham presses Trump on Ukraine’s Starlink access in phone call

Andy Burnham phoned Donald Trump about Ukraine’s Starlink access on Friday and stressed to the US president that Kyiv needs "full access" to the satellite system to defend itself against Russia.

Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have simmered after restrictions were placed on Ukraine’s use of the critical technology.

The Prime Minister brought up the matter directly with the US president during a telephone conversation on Friday amid deteriorating relations between the White House and Volodymyr Zelensky’s government.

Three tankers of Russian diesel headed for North America, Russian deputy PM says

Three tankers carrying Russian diesel are on their way to North America, Russian deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

Novak, in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies, said the cargoes were part of a deal to supply US and world markets.

“The first three fuel tankers are already on their way to the eastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean, with significant support from the RDIF (Russian Direct Investment Fund),” Novak said.

Trump and Burnham hold conversation amid tensions over Ukraine war

Donald Trump and Andy Burnham spoke earlier today as tensions appeared to be rising between the two governments over Russia’s war in Ukraine and the possibility of renewed US escalation against Iran.

The US President told reporters ​he ⁠discussed ‌opening up the North ‌Sea's oil ‌during a conversation ⁠with the PM - but remained tightlipped about the conflicts.

21 drones shot down en route to Moscow, mayor says

A file photo of Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport

The mayor of Moscow said that at least 21 Ukrainian drones heading towards the Russian capital were shot down earlier today.

Sergey Sobyanin issued a series of updates on Telegram about the attacks, adding that emergency services were working at multiple crash sites.

Around 2pm, all four airports in the Moscow air hub had suspended all incoming and outgoing flights.

An air raid alert was then issued at Sheremetyevo.

In pictures: Aftermath of Russian drone strike on Kharkiv

Firefighters work at the site of an office building damaged during a Russian jet drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, October 23, 2026 The aftermath of the Russian drone strike on the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, October 23, 2026 Rescuers work on the roof of the damaged building following Russia's air attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, October23, 2026 Police officers carry a part of a Russian drone which hit an office building damaged during a Russian jet drone strike in Kharkiv, October 23, 2026

Watch: Tears of joy as 270 prisoners of war return to Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video showing Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians held in captivity by Russia returning in buses after the latest large-scale swap with the Kremlin.

The group of 270 returning to Ukraine included military personnel from the National Guard (including Azov fighters), Ground Forces, Navy, Air Assault Forces, State Border Guard Service, Territorial Defence Forces, State Special Transport Service, and nine civilians.

White House praises Melania Trump as Kyiv clarifies ceasefire details with Moscow

The White House has praised Melania Trump, the First Lady, for successfully securing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine "localised to the city of Oleshky".

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to temporarily stop all military action in the city to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway, the White House added.

Russia steps up attacks on digital infrastructure, Ukraine warns

Russia is battering Ukraine's digital infrastructure with the same intensity as its embattled power grid, the prime minister has warned.

Serhii Koretskyi revealed that the Kremlin has hit 10 data centres in Kyiv alone last month - and ​added that ⁠AI-aided cyberattacks on state information systems and businesses were also on the ⁠rise.

"Russia is attacking our digital infrastructure as systematically as it is attacking our energy sector," he said.

The Kremlin has been striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of winter, after a summer campaign of expanding Russian strikes on logistics, businesses and data centres.