🔗 Share this article Experts Identify Kremlin Scare Strategy Against Tomahawk Deployment Moscow is conducting a psychological influence initiative of warnings to discourage the United States from supplying precision-guided weapons to Kyiv, based on analysis from defense experts. A senior official remarked: “We are familiar with these projectiles thoroughly, their flight patterns, methods to intercept them, we tested against them in Middle East operations, so it presents no surprises. Those delivering them and the deploying forces will have problems … We will develop strategies to hurt those who cause us trouble.” Kyiv's Counteroffensive Progress Kyiv's troops were imposing substantial damage in a military operation in the Donetsk front, the primary conflict zone, Ukraine's leader said on midweek. Zelenskyy's assessment, derived from a briefing from his chief of defense, contrasted with the Russian president's remarks to defense leadership a prior day in which he asserted Russian troops held the operational control in throughout the battle lines. Based on evaluation dated October's first week, defense researchers said Russia was experiencing substantial casualties, especially due to drone strikes by Ukraine, in exchange for minor territorial gains. Ukrainian forces, Zelenskyy said, were “protecting our positions along all other directions”, mentioning particularly northeastern Kupiansk, a largely destroyed urban area in north-eastern Ukraine under intense attacks for several months. Area Developments Administrative officials in Ukraine's southern region of the Kherson oblast said offensive operations on Wednesday caused three deaths in and around the regional capital of the oblast center. Local authorities of Sumy region, on the northern frontier with Russia, said three fatalities occurred in UAV assaults in various areas. Ukrainian aerial defense said it neutralized or disrupted 154 out of 183 offensive unmanned aircraft during the night. An offensive strike substantially impacted a Ukrainian energy facility, officials reported on midweek. Two employees were harmed during the strike, according to energy company officials. Sources gave limited details, about the site's whereabouts, but national sources said attacks targeted critical utilities in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv, southern Kherson and the Dnipropetrovsk area. Civilian Effects In the northern Ukrainian city of the Shostka area, significantly damaged by the military campaign against the power supply, local government has established temporary shelters where civilians are able to seek warmth, access hot drinks, maintain communication capability and access mental health services, according to administrative leader. Diplomatic Reactions The Ukrainian diplomat to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on midweek called on European allies to increase acquisitions of US weapons for Ukraine. “The situation isn't that we prefer American weapons rather than European or other international equipment – the challenge remains that we are asking the United States for weapons which European nations can't provide,” said the diplomatic representative. German federal police will soon be allowed to intercept UAVs, interior minister announced on Wednesday, after a spate of unmanned aircraft incidents believed to be Moscow's attempts to gather intelligence and deter. Announcing legal changes, the minister said law enforcement would receive permission “to take sophisticated countermeasures against unmanned aircraft dangers, for example with EMP technology, signal disruption, GPS interference, but also with direct interception”. EU Defense Challenges European Commission President declared on midweek that EU nations need to enhance its security measures to respond to Moscow's multifaceted attacks following aerial violations, cyber-attacks and submarine infrastructure disruption. “This is not isolated incidents. They constitute a systematic and intensifying operation,” the official said in a speech to the European parliament. “A couple of events are random chance, but three, five, ten – that represents a deliberate and targeted hybrid threat strategy against Europe, and European countries should answer.” Displacement Status The Swiss government has extended its protection status provided to people fleeing Ukraine to at least March 2027. Temporary protection, which enables individuals to travel abroad as well as seek employment there, is typically restricted to one year but can be extended. “The decision reflects the continued unstable environment and ongoing military actions across large parts of Ukraine,” said a Swiss government statement. “Despite international peace efforts, a lasting stabilisation that would allow for safe return is not expected in the foreseeable future.”