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Moscow is executing a psychological influence operation of threats to prevent the United States from delivering long-range missiles to Kyiv, according to military analysts. An influential Russian lawmaker declared: “We know these projectiles thoroughly, their flight patterns, how to shoot them down, we worked on them in Middle East operations, so there is nothing new. Only those who supply them and the operators will face consequences … We will identify methods to damage those who oppose our interests.”

Ukraine's Defensive Operations Progress

Ukrainian forces were imposing substantial damage in a strategic push in eastern Ukraine, the war's main theatre, the Ukrainian president reported on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president's account, based on a briefing from his top commander, differed from Vladimir Putin's remarks to defense leadership a day earlier in which he claimed Russian troops possessed the operational control in every combat zone.

According to analysis from the beginning of October, defense researchers said Russia was experiencing substantial casualties, especially due to unmanned aerial vehicle assaults, in compensation of limited tactical advances. Kyiv's troops, the president stated, were “protecting our positions along multiple fronts”, referring specifically to the Kupiansk area, a significantly ruined urban area in the northeastern front under sustained offensive operations for months.

Local Developments

The regional governor in the Kherson area of the Kherson oblast said Russian attacks on midweek resulted in three fatalities in and around the city of the same name. Administrative officials of Sumy region, on the northern border with the Russian Federation, said three fatalities occurred in unmanned aerial strikes in multiple locations. Ukraine's air force said it successfully countered most of the attack and decoy UAVs through the evening.

An offensive strike substantially impacted one of Ukraine's thermal power plants, officials reported on midweek. Two employees were injured in the attack, according to power utility representatives. Sources gave minimal specifics, regarding the site's whereabouts, but Ukrainian authorities said strikes hit critical utilities in northern Ukraine, southern Ukraine and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Public Impact

In the border community of Shostka, significantly damaged by the military campaign against the electrical grid, officials have put up tents where civilians are able to warm up, drink hot tea, maintain communication capability and receive psychological support, as reported by regional head.

Global Reactions

Ukraine's ambassador to Nato on midweek called on NATO members to increase acquisitions of US weapons for Ukrainian forces. “It's not that we prioritize US equipment rather than European or other international equipment – the reality is that we require the America for systems that European nations can't provide,” said Ukraine's NATO envoy.

German federal police will shortly receive authorization to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles, security chief said on Wednesday, following multiple drone sightings believed to be foreign operations to gather intelligence and deter. Announcing legal changes, the minister said security forces could legally “to employ sophisticated countermeasures against unmanned aircraft dangers, such as electromagnetic pulses, signal disruption, satellite signal blocking, but also with direct interception”.

European Defense Concerns

European Commission President said on Wednesday that Europe must ramp up its protective capabilities to counter complex threat operations after aerial violations, computer network operations and marine communications interference. “This doesn't represent random harassment. It is a organized and growing strategy,” the representative said in a address before the EU legislative body. “Two incidents are coincidence, but several, many, frequent – this constitutes a deliberate and targeted ambiguous warfare operation against the European Union, and Europe must respond.”

Humanitarian Conditions

The Swiss government has continued its temporary shelter provided to Ukrainian refugees to at least 4 March 2027. Temporary protection, which enables individuals to journey internationally as well as seek employment there, is generally limited to twelve months but can be extended. “The decision reflects the continued dangerous conditions and continuing offensive operations across significant Ukrainian territory,” said a federal announcement. “Notwithstanding international peace efforts, a lasting stabilisation that would allow for safe return is not expected in the coming years.”