What you saw from Oleshky, Ukraine, was a lie.
Dying In Place
Oleshky lies just across the Dnipro from Ukrainian-controlled Kherson, a strategically important city in the south of Ukraine. This location makes the town a useful military foothold for the Russians. They launch daily attacks on Kherson from it while using the presence of its civilian population to shield their positions.
Zarina Zabrisky is an American journalist, and documentary filmmaker based in Kherson, Ukraine. She directed and produced the documentary Kherson: Human Safari.
Last week she wrote in the Atlantic, “I am the only foreign journalist permanently based in Kherson, where I have been reporting since 2023. Since February, I have been investigating the humanitarian catastrophe in Oleshky and the neighbouring settlements. My work has drawn on evacuee testimonies, contacts inside occupied territory, official data, and verified military footage.”
She anticipated Russia using the ceasefire as a ruse to reinforce troops and assault Kherson. Read Zarina’s full article here.
And then there was the Vatican’s report that Pope Leo spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin via phone call on October 16 about a ceasefire. The Pope was in hospital recovering from lung cancer surgery.
Predictable
Rhonda Blessing – Rhonda and her husband are American missionaries living in Lviv. She says, “Oleshky is a vital, strategic point, in order for Russia to take Kherson, which they’ve been trying to do for years. Ukrainians in Oleshky reported that, once the ceasefire was in place, massive numbers of Russian soldiers and military equipment were moving into Oleshky.
It is evident to everyone that Russia is taking advantage of this ceasefire to reinforce and, possibly, help them take Kherson now. The Russians were starving the people in Oleshky, so it is wonderful that they got out, but sadly, Kherson will probably pay a price now through, at the minimum, having bigger attacks. Please pray that the Ukrainian army can keep holding Kherson.
Finally, in the last few days, Russia has hit numerous civilian sites in Ukraine, including trains and buses, killing many people. Never forget – this is who Russia is.” November 1, 2026
President Zelensky awarded Melania Trump with one of Ukraine’s highest honours for her influence in the ceasefire.
About 800 Ukrainians were rescued. That’s the good news.
Seventeen buses full of people headed to Ukraine, while four went to Russia.
We trust that God can take what was intended for evil and turn it for good. (Genesis 50:20) And, regardless of what Putin may be plotting, we can choose to rejoice that people who have endured unimaginable suffering have finally made it out of Russian occupation.
Their freedom matters. Their lives matter. May God protect those who have escaped, those who remain trapped, and those defending Kherson.
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