Russia Resumes Attacks in Ukraine’s Kherson Region After Six-Day Local Ceasefire Ends

KYIV (Terror Monitor) — Russian forces have resumed attacks in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region following the expiration of a six-day local ceasefire, Ukrainian authorities said on Monday, November 2, as the wider war between Moscow and Kyiv continues with no comprehensive peace agreement in sight.

Local authorities reported that Russian forces attacked a civilian car with a drone in the Korabelny district of Kherson city at around 8:00 a.m. local time. A 62-year-old woman and a 73-year-old man were wounded in the attack and taken to hospital, according to a statement issued by the regional authorities.

The reported strike came after a temporary ceasefire around the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky and surrounding areas expired on Sunday, November 1. The six-day arrangement, which began on October 27, was intended to facilitate humanitarian assistance and the evacuation of civilians from areas threatened by fighting.

Six-Day Truce Enabled Civilian Evacuations

The temporary ceasefire was described as the longest local pause in fighting between Russia and Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

According to Reuters, Ukrainian authorities evacuated 167 civilians from threatened areas of the Kherson region on Sunday. The group included 22 children and 21 people with limited mobility.

The humanitarian operation also enabled civilians to leave Russian-occupied Oleshky, where residents had faced difficult conditions amid continuing hostilities. Reuters reported that the ceasefire involved mediation efforts by US First Lady Melania Trump and the participation of Pope Leo.

Both sides had reportedly observed the commitments during the temporary pause, allowing humanitarian activities and the movement of civilians. However, the arrangement was limited to the designated area and did not amount to a broader ceasefire across Ukraine.

A senior Ukrainian figure told AFP that Russia had declined Kyiv’s proposal to extend the local truce. Ukrainian military officials also alleged that Russian forces had used the pause to strengthen their positions.

Fighting Continues Elsewhere in Ukraine

Despite the temporary humanitarian arrangement in Kherson, attacks continued in other parts of Ukraine.

The Associated Press reported on Monday that Russian strikes hit an aid distribution centre operating inside a school and a neighbouring shelter in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian authorities said 24 people were killed in the attack.

Additional Russian drone attacks reportedly injured civilians in Kharkiv and Odesa, highlighting the continued risks to civilian areas even as limited humanitarian arrangements are negotiated.

The latest developments underline the difference between localized pauses intended to facilitate evacuations and a comprehensive ceasefire capable of halting the wider conflict.

Kremlin Rules Out Immediate Resumption of Russian Gas Transit Through Ukraine

Separately, the Kremlin said on Monday that restoring Russian natural gas supplies to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines was currently impossible, responding to a report by The Wall Street Journal about a possible US-backed proposal.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the remarks during his regular press briefing, saying that the situation on the ground did not allow such a plan to be implemented under current conditions.

The Wall Street Journal, citing US, European and Ukrainian officials familiar with the discussions, reported that representatives of US President Donald Trump, including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, had discussed a proposal to resume Russian gas shipments to Europe through Ukraine during visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September.

Under the reported proposal, an American intermediary could be involved in purchasing and reselling Russian natural gas, while revenues could be held in a restricted escrow account to address concerns over financing Russia’s war effort.

The proposed arrangement was reportedly being considered as part of broader efforts to secure an energy ceasefire and persuade Moscow and Kyiv to halt attacks on energy infrastructure ahead of winter.

Peskov, however, said the current circumstances made implementation impossible for now. His remarks did not rule out the possibility of reconsidering the issue if conditions change in the future.

Energy and Diplomatic Challenges Ahead of Winter

The possible restoration of Russian gas transit through Ukraine remains politically sensitive, particularly as European countries seek to reduce their dependence on Russian energy supplies.

The pipeline transit agreement between Moscow and Kyiv expired at the beginning of 2025, and Ukraine did not agree to extend it. The reported US proposal would therefore require significant political and commercial arrangements involving Russia, Ukraine, Washington and European buyers.

With winter approaching, attacks on energy infrastructure and disagreements over gas supplies add another layer of difficulty to efforts to reduce tensions.

For now, the expiration of the Kherson ceasefire and the Kremlin’s rejection of an immediate gas-transit proposal illustrate the challenges facing diplomatic efforts to secure a broader pause in the war.