Ukraine says Starlink is restored, and a local ceasefire credited to Melania Trump is set for an occupied Kherson town
Kyiv says its military's satellite links are working again after more than a week of disruption. A ceasefire in Oleshky is to start Oct. 27, with an aid operation on Oct. 29.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara said Saturday that restrictions on the military's Starlink and Starshield connections had been lifted after more than a week of disruption that hampered drone operations, crediting talks with Washington and President Zelenskyy's diplomacy, Al Jazeera reported. Elon Musk wrote that Ukraine's military "violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people" and that "That loophole was closed last week," Al Jazeera reported. It was unclear who ordered the restrictions; Trump denied responsibility while defending Musk.
Kyiv and Moscow agreed Friday to a local ceasefire so aid can reach a stranded town in the Kherson region, after secret consultations between first lady Melania Trump and civilian negotiators from both countries, the Associated Press reported. Al Jazeera reported that Trump credited his wife with the ceasefire in Oleshky, occupied by Russia since 2022, which is set to begin Oct. 27, with a humanitarian operation planned for Oct. 29. A Kremlin spokesman said the next round of U.S. brokered talks will likely be held in Abu Dhabi around mid November, which would be the fourth round, the AP reported.
Putin said on state television that Moscow is "ready to negotiate and seek solutions" but that "all the objectives of the special military operation will be achieved," and Zelenskyy said "real pressure on Russia is needed," the AP reported. Russia demands all of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson plus Crimea and has rejected a halt in fighting before a full agreement, according to the AP. Attacks went on Saturday: a Russian drone attack in the Dnipropetrovsk region killed at least three people and a missile strike on Lozova killed one, while Ukraine hit petrochemical plants in Togliatti and Omsk and the governor of Russia's Oryol region reported three deaths, Al Jazeera reported. Moscow said it destroyed more than 800 Ukrainian drones, the AP reported.
What is established
- The Oleshky ceasefire is set to begin Oct. 27, with an aid operation on Oct. 29, Al Jazeera reported.
- Talks in Abu Dhabi would be the fourth round brokered by the Trump administration, the AP reported.
- Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine, according to the AP.
- The Starlink disruption lasted more than a week, Ukraine's defense minister said.
What each side says
Moscow is "ready to negotiate and seek solutions," but "all the objectives of the special military operation will be achieved."
"Real pressure on Russia is needed" after Russia answered talks with ballistic missiles.
Ukraine's military broke Starlink's terms of service by using it for offensive drone strikes, and that loophole was closed.
How it was covered
Left 1 report
Al Jazeera led with the restored Starlink service and the toll of strikes on both sides of the border.
Center 1 report
AP led with the opening for new talks and laid out the territorial and security demands that stand in the way.