Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [Reuters-Yonhap]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky [Reuters-Yonhap]

Russia has resumed attacks targeting Ukraine's Kherson region, striking almost immediately after a local truce in the area expired.

Kherson regional authorities said in a statement Monday (local time) that Russian forces attacked a vehicle with a drone, according to AFP as cited by Yonhap.

Two civilians were injured in the attack and taken to a hospital.

Residents of Oleshky in Kherson Oblast had been cut off and faced a survival crisis after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. As conditions worsened, calls for humanitarian aid — including food and medicine — grew louder from around the world, including from Pope Leo XIV.

Under US mediation, the two sides had agreed to a truce running from Oct. 27 to Sunday.

It was the longest ceasefire since the war began.

With Oleshky residents successfully evacuated during the truce without any reported violations, hopes had emerged that the episode could serve as a turning point toward easing tensions between the two countries.

However, the truce ended Sunday without being extended.

Ukraine also claimed that Russia had rejected its proposal to extend the ceasefire.

Zelensky signals willingness to meet Putin directly

Amid these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that he is willing to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkey.

Asked in an interview with Turkish broadcaster CNN Türk whether he was ready to meet Putin, Zelensky replied, "Yes. I am ready," according to dpa as cited by Yonhap.

Zelensky has expressed willingness to hold face-to-face talks with Putin on multiple occasions.

However, the meetings have not materialized, as Putin has insisted on holding them in Moscow while Zelensky has refused to accept that condition.

Under US pressure, Russia and Ukraine are also preparing to resume working-level peace negotiations that have been stalled for several months.

Delegations from the United States, Russia and Ukraine are set to meet in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Zelensky, however, maintains that the most important issues can only be resolved through direct dialogue with Putin.


yul@heraldcorp.com