Russia's Propaganda Tour of Occupied Oleshky for US Journalists

Russia will allow selected American journalists from Newsmax and Fox News to visit occupied Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region under Russian military escort, but the trip may serve as a Kremlin propaganda tool, The Atlantic reported on Wednesday, October 28. The visit comes amid a humanitarian ceasefire brokered by U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, with independent journalists barred from the city. Russian forces reportedly terrorize residents, hunt them with drones, and deny reliable access to food, water, and medicine. The Atlantic notes the excursion will show only a Russia-controlled picture, with residents unlikely to speak freely under military supervision. Oleshky residents have endured severe suffering since Russia's 2022 invasion, including flooding after the Kakhovka Dam destruction, drone attacks, and food shortages. Around 1,700 people remain in the city, with some forced to eat weeds. The ceasefire, which began October 27, is set to last until November 1, with no incidents reported in its first 30 hours.