Speaking at a press conference after the humanitarian operation in the southern city, Lubinets said the movement and concentration of equipment had been explicitly banned by the agreements reached for the truce. "This was not just discussed, we wrote it into the document — 'the concentration and movement of equipment is prohibited'," Deutsche Welle quoted him as saying.
Lubinets said he had contacted the Ukrainian official responsible for monitoring the local ceasefire and had personally watched the video. According to him, no violations by either side were recorded during the truce. "I do not presume to give assessments. I am talking about what happened under my control. The video can be interpreted in different ways," he said.
Earlier the same day, Ukraine's General Staff accused Russia of using the humanitarian pause to strengthen its positions. According to the staff, during the silence regime it recorded the rotation of Russian units, expanded use of anti-drone equipment on roads and a build-up of logistics, including the delivery of ammunition.
British broadcaster Sky News published drone footage that its journalists said showed Russian units moving heavy equipment and ammunition into the city and rotating personnel. "Under the cover of the ceasefire, Russian soldiers began moving heavy military equipment and ammunition," Sky News said.
The silence regime in Oleshky and surrounding districts ran from early morning on 27 October until 22:59 on 1 November. The arrangement was reached with the involvement of US first lady Melania Trump, whom Moscow and Kyiv describe as a key mediator. Hundreds of civilians were taken out of the city during the operation; the sides agreed not to disclose the exact number evacuated.
Melania Trump called the humanitarian mission a success, saying critical aid had been delivered and nearly 800 people evacuated. She expressed hope that "Oleshky will become the basis for a long-term peace between both countries".
Asked about the evacuation route, Lubinets said taking people across the river to Kherson had never been considered because it was unacceptable to weaken Ukrainian defenses on the front line along the Dnipro. According to him, the SBU security service and military intelligence were involved in preparing the plan.
The accounts diverge: the Ukrainian General Staff and Sky News report the transfer of Russian equipment and ammunition under cover of the truce, while Lubinets says the equipment was used for demining and returned to its positions, and that no violations were recorded.