Zelenskyy: “Putin and the people around him use nuclear weapons rhetoric at least twice a year. They also push narratives through the media and their bloggers that if you pressure Russia, or if you support Ukraine, or if you impose additional sanctions, they will use nukes.” Q: Sorry to push you on this, but has there been a moment over the last 4.5 years where there was a serious risk of Putin using a nuclear weapon? Has there been a moment when that was a real possibility? Zelenskyy: “No, I don’t really know anything about this. What I do know is that Russians always try to raise this topic when they need something, or when they are afraid of something, or when they want to divide Europe, or when they want someone in Europe or White House to stop supporting Ukraine. They always raise this topic as an additional psychological instrument of influence to pressure Europeans or the United States. But I never saw anything more than that.” I hope that after so many years of the same threats repeated over and over, people finally recognize this for what it is: simple, cheap manipulation.

Russia and Trump are trying to give themselves good publicity before the midterm elections by announcing a ceasefire in the town of Oleshky. Don't fall for their propaganda. I had U.S. journalist Zarina Zabrisky on the podcast back in April to talk about this crisis that Russia created.

Vitaly’s home in Oleshky was destroyed during Russia’s occupation. Looking forward to bringing you this story tomorrow as preparations continue for the coming evacuation mission.

Russia is giving Trump-friendly media figures a tour of Oleshky, Ukraine, the site of a cease-fire reportedly brokered by Melania Trump—but what they’ll see almost certainly won’t be the truth, @ZarinaZabrisky reports.

🇬🇧🇺🇦 UK is committing an additional £10 billion in aid to Ukraine: £7 billion will go toward economic support over the next three years, and £3 billion will back export support, focused mainly on supplying essential weaponry. Thank you UK! Also two things: First, in a troubled world where some Western democracies turn on their allies, and on democracy itself, while others cling to realpolitik refusing to face the reality, the UK is proving to be a true reliable ally. Second, the pro Farage-Russia bots are outraged, pushing hard to convince people to be isolationsts. But the victor of this war will determine whether Europe faces peace or war, prosperity or ruin. Supporting Ukraine is not only the right moral choice, it is an investment in Europe’s future, peace, security, and prosperity .

According to Le Monde, citing sources, U.S. special envoy Witkoff held a tense meeting in Florida on October 9 with Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office. Sources claimed that Witkoff spoke to Budanov “like a child,” trying to “teach” him how to make money. Witkoff proposed a postwar “regional prosperity plan” that included fully restoring Russian oil and gas transit to Europe through Ukrainian territory. Witkoff argued that Ukraine would earn transit revenues while Europe would benefit from lower energy costs. Budanov reportedly replied that Ukraine’s model is “not Belarus, but Poland,” then stepped out to call President Zelenskyy, who advised him not to show any reaction. When the talks resumed, the Ukrainian side was shown a document outlining a U.S.-Russia diesel deal. An irritated Witkoff reportedly said: “Accept this diesel deal and stop striking Russian oil refineries — you are putting the world at risk!” Ukrainian participants were described as shocked, viewing the plan as creating dependency on Moscow and noting that the United States appeared to have secured nothing in return from Putin. A source close to the delegation told Le Monde: “I have never seen the Ukrainians so stunned and alarmed after a meeting.” Analysts contrasted the episode with the February 28, 2025 Oval Office incident, saying this one involves concrete policy decisions that could affect Ukraine’s ability to defend itself ahead of a potentially harsh winter.

‼️ IMPORTANT: We expect Putin to use the evacuation from Oleshky as a PR stunt and an attempt to rewrite the history of what happened in the city. The American public should be aware of Russia’s disinformation tactics and know what warning signs to watch for. Here are some key Q&As ⬇️ What is happening in Oleshky, and how severe is the humanitarian situation? Oleshky, located across the Dnipro River from Kherson city, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in the city, including around 50 children. Most are elderly people, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. Residents face severe shortages of food and medicine, with no access to drinking water, electricity, gas, or heating. The last regular road deliveries of food took place in May 2026. Medical and sanitary conditions have deteriorated dramatically. Russia does not provide humanitarian relief to the city and has refused to allow the ICRC or the UN to enter, despite multiple attempts. Why have residents been unable to leave? Swarming drones, heavily mined roads, and destroyed infrastructure have made it extremely dangerous for residents to leave. Russian forces have blocked civilians from fleeing and prevented humanitarian aid from reaching those trapped in Oleshky. According to @nytimes, people who managed to escape the city described residents being used as human shields. What exactly has been agreed upon now? A localized ceasefire took effect at 3 a.m. Kyiv time on October 27 to facilitate humanitarian assistance and prepare for civilian evacuations. The plan involves demining, aid deliveries, and the opening of a humanitarian corridor, with evacuations expected to begin on October 29. Ukraine welcomed efforts to provide humanitarian relief, brokered by @FLOTUS Melania Trump and @Pontifex Pope Leo XIV. Ukrainian officials have agreed to the localized ceasefire but remain concerned about implementation and compliance, given Russia’s long history of violating humanitarian agreements. Where will civilians be taken? According to @FT, residents seeking evacuation will be first taken to occupied Crimea or Russia rather than directly to Ukrainian-controlled territory across the Dnipro River. Will the evacuation through Russia be voluntary? Establishing genuine consent will be particularly difficult when residents are desperate for food, water, and medical care and have limited access to independent information. Many of these people will likely be taken to Russia against their wishes. According to Ukrainian officials, some people may decide to remain in Oleshky. What will happen to evacuees afterward? Russian officials have said that residents wishing to return to Ukraine will be able to do so. However, there are serious concerns that people transferred to Russian-controlled territory could face interrogation, filtration procedures, detention, or pressure to obtain Russian documents or register with Russian authorities. Children face additional risks, including separation from their families or placement in Russian custody. People seeking to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory may have to travel through Russia and Belarus, and then through EU countries before entering Ukraine from the west. Why is independent international monitoring essential? Ukraine's Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, is coordinating evacuation requests, but important operational details remain unclear. There is no confirmation that the ICRC, UNHCR, or other independent international organizations will monitor the evacuations. Independent monitors should have access to evacuation routes and destinations, be able to speak privately with civilians, verify consent, protect children and vulnerable people, and investigate alleged violations. Will there be American observers on the ground? The White House has said an impartial American media organization will accompany the operation and document the process. @Newsmax has announced plans to send journalists to Oleshky. Their presence could provide invaluable reporting and documentation. However, journalists are not a substitute for humanitarian monitors: they do not have the same mandate, expertise, or access guarantees to protect civilians and enforce compliance with international humanitarian law. Moreover, American journalists themselves also face serious security risks in Russian-controlled territory. What Russian disinformation tactics should the public watch for? @peterpomeranzev of @TRPforJustice, who has been studying Russian propaganda for years, warns in his analysis for the @KyivIndependent that residents of Oleshky, under the pressure of living on the brink of death, could become props for Russian propagandists. Russia may be preparing to stage dozens of videos in occupied Oleshky, in which local residents will be forced to say on camera that they are happy, well-fed, and grateful to the Russian occupiers. Ukrainian officials have warned that Moscow could portray the evacuation as evidence that Ukrainians freely choose to move to Russia. Russia will most likely try to blame Ukraine for the horrors Russian army has unleashed on Oleshky — and take more Ukrainian children under the pretext of “protecting” them and providing humanitarian assistance. If you’ve read this far, please share this so more people are aware of the situation and know what to expect next. Thank you!

🗣️ “Hello! My name is Olenka. I am personally acquainted with volunteers from the British charity organisation Surrey Stands with Ukraine, whom I trust. For the fourth year in a row, they are organising a fundraiser to purchase winter kits for Ukrainian families living near the borders with the aggressor state. Each kit contains a gas stove, a flashlight, a power bank, and a blanket. Please join in and help Surrey Stands with Ukraine assist Ukrainian families in getting through this difficult winter. Together, we are a force! Glory to Ukraine!” ⤵️ See next comment to help 🙏🏻 🇺🇦🇬🇧

Get ready for the unfolding of a Russian propaganda operation, carried out with the aid of the White House, in the battered town of Oleshky. From @ZarinaZabrisky, who has been reporting from Kherson, just across the river, since 2023

🎯 We are £365 away from reaching 40% funded - thank you all so much! 🏠The destination for the packs will be a town in Kharkiv oblast. Within FPV drone range. So once again, a community in need. ⤵️ Please see the next comment to help 🙏🏻 #wedontstop# 🇺🇦🇬🇧

Ukrainian publishing house KSD has released video showing the destruction of its warehouse after a Russian attack on October 27. ​According to KSD, approximately 300,000 books were housed at the site. The extent of the salvagable stock is still unknown, as heavy smoke damaged even the copies left untouched by flames and water. Russia has been burning Ukrainian books, banning our language, repressing and executing writers for centuries in attempts to erase our culture and language.

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