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The Kremlin is conducting a psychological influence operation of warnings to discourage the US from delivering long-range missiles to Ukraine, according to defense experts. A senior Russian lawmaker declared: “We are familiar with these missiles thoroughly, their flight patterns, defensive countermeasures, we tested against them in Middle East operations, so it presents no surprises. Only those who supply them and the operators will encounter difficulties … We will develop strategies to damage those who oppose our interests.”

Ukrainian Defensive Operations Progress

Kyiv's troops were inflicting heavy losses in a strategic push in eastern Ukraine, the central battlefield, Ukraine's leader said on midweek. Zelenskyy's assessment, based on a report by his top commander, contradicted Vladimir Putin's address to senior Russian officers a previous day in which he asserted the invading army possessed the operational control in all frontline sectors.

Based on evaluation covering the beginning of October, conflict monitors said Russia was incurring heavy casualty rates, particularly from drone strikes by Ukraine, in exchange for minor territorial gains. Defending units, the president stated, were “defending ourselves along all other directions”, highlighting especially northeastern Kupiansk, a largely destroyed city in Ukraine's northeast under intense attacks for several months.

Area Conditions

Administrative officials in southern Ukraine of Kherson said offensive operations on midweek caused three deaths in and around the city of Kherson city. Administrative officials of Sumy region, on the border area with neighboring Russia, said three people died in Russian drone attacks in various areas. Kyiv's air command said it successfully countered 154 out of 183 Russian strike and decoy drones overnight into Wednesday.

A Russian attack seriously damaged a Ukrainian energy facility, officials reported on Wednesday. Facility personnel were harmed during the strike, according to energy company officials. They provided no further information, about the plant's location, but Ukrainian authorities said Russia struck power facilities in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv, southern Ukraine and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Public Impact

In the northern Ukrainian city of the Shostka area, hit hard by the Russian onslaught against the electrical grid, authorities have created emergency spaces where people can find shelter, access hot drinks, maintain communication capability and receive psychological support, as reported by local official.

International Reactions

Kyiv's representative to Nato on midweek urged European allies to increase acquisitions of US weapons for Ukraine. “It's not that we prioritize United States armaments over European or some other European weapons – the reality is that we are requesting the United States for equipment that EU members can't provide,” said the ambassador.

German federal police will shortly receive authorization to shoot down drones, security chief declared on midweek, in response to numerous UAV observations believed to be Russian efforts to conduct surveillance and threaten. Presenting proposed legislation, the minister said security forces could legally “to employ state-of-the-art technical action against drone threats, for example with electromagnetic pulses, signal disruption, navigation system disruption, but also with kinetic methods”.

Regional Protection Concerns

European Commission President said on Wednesday that EU nations need to strengthen its protective capabilities to deter Russia's “hybrid warfare” in response to airspace breaches, computer network operations and submarine infrastructure disruption. “This is not random harassment. It is a organized and growing strategy,” the leader said in a address before the European lawmakers. “Two incidents are isolated incidents, but several, many, frequent – that represents a deliberate and targeted grey zone campaign against Europe, and European countries should answer.”

Humanitarian Situation

The Switzerland's administration has continued its refugee protection provided to displaced Ukrainians to at least March 2027. Protection status S, which allows people to leave the country as well as seek employment there, is normally capped at twelve months but can be renewed. “The decision demonstrates the ongoing precarious security situation and ongoing military actions across large parts of Ukraine,” said a Swiss government statement. “Notwithstanding global diplomatic initiatives, a lasting stabilisation that would allow for safe return is not expected in the coming years.”