🔗 Share this article

The Kremlin is executing a psychological influence campaign of warnings to prevent the America from supplying precision-guided weapons to Ukraine, according to conflict researchers. A high-ranking Russian lawmaker remarked: “We know these weapons completely, how they fly, how to shoot them down, we tested against them in Syria, so there is nothing new. Those delivering them and the operators will have problems … We will find ways to damage those who cause us trouble.”

Ukraine's Military Push Developments

Ukraine's military were inflicting heavy losses in a strategic push in the Donetsk front, the war's main theatre, the Ukrainian president stated on midweek. The Ukrainian president's account, based on a report by his top commander, differed from Moscow's remarks to high-ranking military personnel a previous day in which he said Russian troops held the military advantage in all frontline sectors.

In an assessment from October's first week, military analysts said Russia was suffering significant losses, particularly from drone strikes by Ukraine, in compensation of small operational progress. Kyiv's troops, Zelenskyy said, were “maintaining our defense along all other directions”, referring specifically to Kupiansk, a significantly ruined city in north-eastern Ukraine under heavy Russian assaults for months.

Local Developments

Administrative officials in the Kherson area of southern Kherson said offensive operations on Wednesday killed three people in and around the regional capital of Kherson city. Local authorities of Sumy region, on the northern frontier with the Russian Federation, said three people died in UAV assaults in multiple locations. Ukraine's air force said it intercepted or jammed most of the attack and decoy UAVs during the night.

A Russian attack substantially impacted a Ukrainian energy facility, government sources stated on midweek. Two workers were wounded in the assault, as reported by energy company officials. They provided limited details, about the plant's location, but national sources said attacks targeted power facilities in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv, southern Ukraine and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Civilian Effects

In the border community of northeastern Ukraine, hit hard by the offensive operations against the power supply, local government has created emergency spaces where civilians are able to seek warmth, drink hot tea, charge their phones and receive psychological support, according to administrative leader.

Diplomatic Response

Ukraine's ambassador to Nato on midweek urged NATO members to step up purchases of US weapons for Ukraine. “It's not that we prioritize American weapons over European or some other European weapons – the reality is that we are asking the America for systems that European nations are unable to supply,” said the ambassador.

German federal police will soon be allowed to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles, government official said on midweek, following multiple drone sightings considered likely foreign operations to spy and intimidate. Presenting proposed legislation, the representative said police would be authorized “to implement state-of-the-art technical action against drone threats, such as EMP technology, signal disruption, GPS interference, but also with kinetic methods”.

Regional Protection Issues

EU chief declared on midweek that Europe must ramp up its protective capabilities to counter complex threat operations following aerial violations, computer network operations and damage to undersea cables. “This doesn't represent isolated incidents. They constitute a systematic and intensifying operation,” the representative said in a presentation to the European parliament. “Several occurrences are random chance, but several, many, frequent – this constitutes a planned and specific grey zone campaign against the European Union, and European countries should answer.”

Displacement Status

The Switzerland's administration has extended its temporary shelter provided to people fleeing Ukraine to at least March 2027. Humanitarian status, which enables individuals to leave the country as well as seek employment there, is typically restricted to twelve months but can be extended. “This determination demonstrates the ongoing dangerous conditions and continuing offensive operations across significant Ukrainian territory,” said a federal announcement. “Regardless of international peace efforts, a permanent peace that would permit safe return is not expected in the medium term.”