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Russian authorities is conducting a “reflexive control” campaign of intimidations to deter the US from supplying long-range missiles to Kyiv, as reported by defense experts. An influential Russian lawmaker declared: “We know these projectiles thoroughly, how they fly, defensive countermeasures, we tested against them in Middle East operations, so it presents no surprises. Those delivering them and the operators will have problems … We will identify methods to damage those who create problems for us.”

Ukrainian Counteroffensive Situation

Ukrainian forces were causing significant casualties in a counteroffensive in the Donetsk front, the war's main theatre, Ukraine's leader reported on Wednesday. Kyiv's report, derived from a briefing from his top commander, differed from Moscow's address to high-ranking military personnel a day earlier in which he asserted the invading army possessed the operational control in all frontline sectors.

In an assessment from early October, defense researchers said Russia was incurring heavy casualty rates, especially due to unmanned aerial vehicle assaults, in exchange for small operational progress. Kyiv's troops, Zelenskyy said, were “maintaining our defense along all other directions”, highlighting especially northeastern Kupiansk, a significantly ruined town in north-eastern Ukraine under sustained offensive operations for months.

Area Conditions

Administrative officials in southern Ukraine of the Kherson oblast said offensive operations on Wednesday resulted in three fatalities in and around the regional capital of the same name. Local authorities of northern Sumy, on the border area with Russia, said three people died in unmanned aerial strikes in different districts. Ukraine's air force said it successfully countered 154 out of 183 attack and decoy UAVs overnight into Wednesday.

Military action significantly harmed one of Ukraine's thermal power plants, authorities said on Wednesday. Two workers were injured in the attack, based on information from industry sources. They provided no further information, regarding the site's whereabouts, but national sources said Russia struck power facilities in the Chernihiv region, southern Ukraine and the Dnipropetrovsk area.

Civilian Effects

In the border community of northeastern Ukraine, hit hard by the Russian onslaught against the electrical grid, authorities have established temporary shelters where civilians are able to seek warmth, drink hot tea, maintain communication capability and access mental health services, based on information from administrative leader.

Diplomatic Reactions

Ukraine's ambassador to the military alliance on Wednesday encouraged European partners to step up purchases of US weapons for Ukraine. “This doesn't mean we favor US equipment instead of French or German or some other European weapons – the issue is that we require the United States for systems that European nations are unable to supply,” said the diplomatic representative.

Federal law enforcement will immediately gain permission to shoot down UAVs, security chief said on Wednesday, in response to numerous unmanned aircraft incidents believed to be foreign operations to gather intelligence and deter. Announcing legal changes, the official said police would be authorized “to take state-of-the-art technical action against drone threats, such as electromagnetic pulses, jamming, navigation system disruption, but also with direct interception”.

European Protection Concerns

European Commission President said on midweek that the European Union should enhance its defenses to counter complex threat operations in response to air incursions, cyber-attacks and marine communications interference. “This is not isolated incidents. This represents a systematic and intensifying operation,” the leader said in a address before the European parliament. “A couple of events are isolated incidents, but multiple, repeated, numerous – this constitutes a planned and specific ambiguous warfare operation against the European Union, and the EU needs to react.”

Displacement Status

The Swiss authorities has extended its protection status offered to people fleeing Ukraine to at least March 2027. Humanitarian status, which enables individuals to journey internationally as well as be employed in Switzerland, is generally limited to twelve months but can be continued. “This determination reflects the continued precarious security situation and continuing offensive operations across large parts of Ukraine,” said a Swiss government statement. “Regardless of international peace efforts, a permanent peace that would permit secure repatriation is not projected in the foreseeable future.”