The evacuation of civilians from Oleshy, a front-line city in southern Ukraine occupied by Russia, has been completed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that evacuees have arrived on Ukrainian territory. According to Ukrainian negotiator Dawyd Arachamija, the group traveled via buses through the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula to Anapa, then flew to Belarus before crossing into Ukraine. The Belarussian news agency Belta reported that three planes carrying these exhausted residents landed at Homel airport. Russian human rights commissioner Jana Lantratova stated that the humanitarian mission proceeded without incidents. This operation, facilitated by a six-day local ceasefire mediated by the United States, represents the first such joint evacuation effort in the ongoing war.
In a separate security development, Ukraine's Air Force announced on Telegram that its "Air Alert" application, which sends air raid warnings to smartphones, has been compromised. The app was hacked to issue false warnings about radioactive radiation in the capital, Kyiv, despite no such emergency existing. Officials stated there is no danger from radiation and suspect the enemy may have infiltrated the system.
On the diplomatic front, US President Joe Biden's administration has approved the sale of 500 PAC-3 Patriot missiles to Ukraine. The State Department revealed the deal is valued at an estimated $2.1 billion. Financing for the purchase comes from contributions by Canada, Germany, and Norway, alongside Ukrainian funds secured through an EU loan. Lockheed Martin was named as the prime contractor. President Zelenskyy had previously noted that his country has been waiting nearly a month for this approval due to intensified Russian attacks on infrastructure, urging the US to accelerate deliveries before winter.
Additionally, reports indicate that the United States warned Russia's domestic intelligence service, the FSB, about a planned terrorist attack in Moscow. The Russian news agency RIA reported that the warning came through existing partner channels and that the FSB is taking measures. The US Embassy in Moscow independently confirmed receiving credible information regarding a planned attack with many casualties in the Russian capital and stated it is coordinating with Russian authorities.
Regarding international negotiations, German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dismissed reports of potential talks between China, Russia, and the US concerning Ukraine. In an interview, Steinmeier stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping made it clear during their meetings in Beijing that no such preparations exist and that Europe must be included in any peace solution. While a meeting between the three nations is scheduled on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, it will not address the Ukraine conflict.
Sources: Handelsblatt.