'Life simply returned' – Oleshky ceasefire gives Kherson short respite amid years of Russian terror
Editor's note: Ukrainian journalist Daria Litovchenko contributed to reporting on the ground in Kherson, while Francis Farrell compiled the material from Kyiv. In all of Ukraine, perhaps no city has suffered as much, for as long, during Russia's full-scale war as Kherson. From the initial eight months of brutal Russian occupation in 2022 — with all of the associated torture, looting and…
Kherson, the Ukrainian city that has endured years of brutal Russian occupation, has experienced a rare period of calm. From August 2022 to October 2026, the city faced relentless attacks, including torture, looting, and the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. However, from October 27 to November 1, 2026, Russian and Ukrainian forces observed an unprecedented ceasefire along the front line near Kherson.
This brief respite allowed residents to walk the streets, visit markets, and even venture into the so-called "red zone" without fear of drone strikes. Despite the temporary peace, the residents acknowledge that the end of the ceasefire is inevitable, and the city remains on edge, fearing the return of the devastating Russian terror.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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