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Russian authorities is executing a psychological influence operation of threats to prevent the US from providing precision-guided weapons to Kyiv, according to conflict researchers. An influential legislator remarked: “We know these missiles thoroughly, their operational characteristics, how to shoot them down, we tested against them in the Syrian conflict, so there is nothing new. Only those who supply them and the deploying forces will have problems … We will develop strategies to target those who create problems for us.”

Ukraine's Defensive Operations Progress

Ukraine's military were causing significant casualties in a counteroffensive in the Donetsk front, the war's main theatre, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president's account, following a communication with his senior military officer, contrasted with Moscow's remarks to high-ranking military personnel a previous day in which he asserted the invading army held the strategic initiative in every combat zone.

Based on evaluation from the beginning of October, defense researchers said Russia was incurring heavy casualty rates, mainly because of Ukrainian drone attacks, in return for small operational progress. Ukrainian forces, Ukraine's leader reported, were “maintaining our defense along all other directions”, mentioning particularly Kupiansk, a heavily damaged city in north-eastern Ukraine under heavy Russian assaults for several months.

Local Developments

The regional governor in Ukraine's southern region of Kherson said military strikes on Wednesday resulted in three fatalities in and around the regional capital of the oblast center. The governor of Sumy region, on the border area with neighboring Russia, said three people died in Russian drone attacks in different districts. Kyiv's air command said it successfully countered 154 out of 183 offensive unmanned aircraft through the evening.

A Russian attack significantly harmed critical infrastructure, officials reported on midweek. Two workers were injured in the attack, according to energy company officials. They provided minimal specifics, about the facility's position, but Ukrainian authorities said Russia struck critical utilities in northern Ukraine, the Kherson area and eastern Ukraine.

Civilian Effects

In the northern Ukrainian city of the Shostka area, severely affected by the military campaign against the electrical grid, officials have created emergency spaces where people can seek warmth, receive warm beverages, maintain communication capability and access mental health services, based on information from administrative leader.

International Response

The Ukrainian diplomat to Nato on Wednesday urged European partners to increase acquisitions of US weapons for Ukraine. “The situation isn't that we prioritize American weapons instead of allied or alternative military systems – the challenge remains that we are asking the America for systems that European nations don't possess,” said the ambassador.

German federal police will shortly receive authorization to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles, interior minister said on Wednesday, following multiple drone sightings considered likely Moscow's attempts to spy and intimidate. Announcing legal changes, the representative said law enforcement would receive permission “to employ sophisticated countermeasures against drone threats, for example with EMP technology, signal disruption, GPS interference, but also with kinetic methods”.

Regional Protection Challenges

European leader said on midweek that EU nations need to strengthen its security measures to counter complex threat operations in response to air incursions, digital assaults and damage to undersea cables. “This is not random harassment. It is a coherent and escalating campaign,” the representative said in a presentation to the European lawmakers. “A couple of events are isolated incidents, but several, many, frequent – this constitutes a planned and specific hybrid threat strategy against the European Union, and the EU needs to react.”

Displacement Situation

The Switzerland's administration has prolonged its refugee protection granted to Ukrainian refugees to at least March 2027. Temporary protection, which enables individuals to journey internationally as well as be employed in Switzerland, is typically restricted to one year but can be extended. “The decision shows the persistent precarious security situation and persistent Russian attacks across large parts of Ukraine,” said a Swiss government statement. “Regardless of worldwide negotiation attempts, a permanent peace that would permit safe return is not anticipated in the foreseeable future.”