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The Kremlin is conducting a psychological influence campaign of threats to discourage the America from supplying precision-guided weapons to Ukraine, as reported by conflict researchers. A high-ranking Russian lawmaker remarked: “We are familiar with these missiles thoroughly, how they fly, methods to intercept them, we worked on them in the Syrian conflict, so it presents no surprises. Only those who supply them and those who use them will encounter difficulties … We will identify methods to hurt those who create problems for us.”

Ukraine's Defensive Operations Progress

Ukrainian forces were causing significant casualties in a counteroffensive in eastern Donetsk region, the central battlefield, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president's account, derived from a briefing from his top commander, differed from the Russian president's address to defense leadership a previous day in which he said the invading army possessed the military advantage in every combat zone.

Based on evaluation covering early October, military analysts said Russia was experiencing substantial casualties, mainly because of Ukrainian drone attacks, in exchange for minor territorial gains. Ukrainian forces, Ukraine's leader reported, were “defending ourselves along all other directions”, mentioning particularly Kupiansk, a significantly ruined urban area in the northeastern front under heavy Russian assaults for an extended period.

Local Situations

Administrative officials in the Kherson area of southern Kherson said offensive operations on Wednesday caused three deaths in and around the city of the same name. Administrative officials of the Sumy oblast, on the border area with the Russian Federation, said three fatalities occurred in Russian drone attacks in various areas. Kyiv's air command said it successfully countered most of the attack and decoy UAVs during the night.

A Russian attack seriously damaged a Ukrainian energy facility, authorities said on midweek. Two workers were injured in the attack, as reported by power utility representatives. Sources gave no further information, about the facility's position, but government officials said attacks targeted energy infrastructure in the Chernihiv region, southern Kherson and eastern Ukraine.

Civilian Effects

In the northern Ukrainian city of Shostka, hit hard by the offensive operations against the energy infrastructure, local government has put up tents where people can find shelter, drink hot tea, charge their phones and obtain emotional assistance, as reported by local official.

Diplomatic Response

Ukraine's ambassador to Nato on midweek encouraged NATO members to increase acquisitions of US weapons for Kyiv. “This doesn't mean we prioritize American weapons rather than allied or alternative military systems – the reality is that we are asking the America for systems that European countries are unable to supply,” said the diplomatic representative.

German federal police will immediately gain permission to intercept drones, government official declared on midweek, in response to numerous UAV observations suspected as Moscow's attempts to conduct surveillance and threaten. Presenting proposed legislation, the official said police would be authorized “to employ state-of-the-art technical action against UAV risks, such as electromagnetic pulses, electronic interference, navigation system disruption, but also with kinetic methods”.

EU Security Issues

EU chief declared on midweek that the European Union should ramp up its security measures to respond to Moscow's multifaceted attacks after airspace breaches, computer network operations and damage to undersea cables. “This is not random harassment. They constitute a systematic and intensifying operation,” the official said in a speech to the EU legislative body. “Several occurrences are random chance, but three, five, ten – this is a planned and specific grey zone campaign against Europe, and Europe must respond.”

Displacement Status

The Swiss authorities has prolonged its temporary shelter provided to displaced Ukrainians to at least March 2027. Humanitarian status, which allows people to leave the country as well as be employed in Switzerland, is normally capped at one year but can be renewed. “The decision demonstrates the ongoing unstable environment and persistent Russian attacks across significant Ukrainian territory,” said a federal announcement. “Despite international peace efforts, a lasting stabilisation that would allow for protected homecoming is not anticipated in the coming years.”