Aid Convoy Heads to Russian-Held Oleshky in Southern Ukraine

An aid convoy carrying food and medical supplies began moving overnight toward the Russian-held town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine, according to Russian newspaper Izvestia on Friday. The operation follows weeks of efforts to relieve the acutely deprived town, seized by Russian forces after the February 2022 invasion. Russia's human rights commissioner Lana Lantratova was shown in Izvestia clips, with passenger buses parked along a road, and reporters from France, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States were set to accompany the convoy. On Thursday, both Russia and Ukraine said demining around Oleshky was complete, allowing aid delivery and resident departures. Elsewhere, Russia struck an industrial facility near Kremenchuk and hit Kyiv and Kharkiv, causing fires, officials said, following deadly strikes a day earlier. Moscow's mayor said the capital was repelling a drone attack.