Steve Witkoff praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a humanitarian during a recent meeting in St. Petersburg, declaring, You are a humanitarian also, sir, and I salute that, I commend you,
as reported by The Economist. That diplomatic overture coincides with a calculated Kremlin campaign to weaponize humanitarian crises in occupied Ukraine to court the incoming administration in Washington.
The diplomatic gathering featured Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets and Verkhovna Rada Deputy David Arakhamiya alongside Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev and Russian Human Rights Commissioner Yana Lantratova.
Oleshky evacuees are arriving at the Belarus-Ukraine border. Number of buses for Ukraine: 11 Number of buses for Russia: 4 23 ambulances are on scene for the elderly; I’m told no major concerns at this point. pic.twitter.com/w1FLgvm83r
Lantratova currently operates under United States sanctions and faces direct allegations of involvement in the forced deportation of at least one Ukrainian child. Dmitriev drew parallels between the Oleshky ceasefire and Melania Trump’s previous initiatives to repatriate deported children. However, the Institute for the Study of War notes that Dmitriev completely omitted the fundamental reality that Russia’s invasion and occupation remain the sole cause of the humanitarian suffering in Oleshky.
While Russian officials project a cooperative stance, a recent strike in Dnipro City killed at least 14 civilians while the Oleshky ceasefire remained active. The Economist reports that Russian long-range strikes have surged dramatically, with monthly deep strikes jumping from 130 to 453 between June and September.
| Metric | Previous Period (June) | Current Period (Sept-Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Russian Deep Strikes | 130 | 453 |
| Observed Civilian Infrastructure Targets | N/A | 290 (to Oct 23) |
| Confirmed Brigade-to-Division Reformations | 0 | 13 (since 2022) |
Romanov has remained offline since October 31, reflecting an ongoing crackdown on independent military bloggers who challenge official claims.
Kyiv Post notes that Russia faces mounting difficulties exporting diesel to the United States under the October 9 bilateral agreement. The sanctioned tanker Talisman and the Sierra Leonean-flagged tanker Leruo abruptly altered course on November 2, with the Talisman heading toward Brazil and the Leruo drifting into the Mediterranean without a confirmed buyer.
Ukraine needs to move toward the new political infrastructure in the United States of America. We need to move quickly. Consolidate the bipartisan support we have. Understanding the shifting balance of power, we need to build the dialogue properly. Our chances of receiving… pic.twitter.com/e6Uyq0xSWz
Ukraine continues to pressure Russian logistics through sustained long-range drone campaigns. Geolocated footage from November 5 confirms heavy smoke plumes rising from the Ryazan Oil Refinery, a Wildberries logistics warehouse, and an OpenYard server facility following overnight strikes. Additional strikes previously impacted the Orelmaslo vegetable oil plant in Oryol City and Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow Oblast.
Parallel to these engagements, the Russian military is pressing forward with structural force generation. the Institute for the Study of War highlights the ongoing reorganization of the 6th Motorized Rifle Brigade into a full maneuver division, following the early October reformation of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade. These adjustments bring the total tally of reorganized brigades to 13 since 2022, though questions persist regarding how Moscow plans to staff these heavy formations to doctrinal end-strength.
