🔗 Share this article

Moscow is conducting a psychological influence campaign of threats to deter the United States from providing long-range missiles to Ukraine, as reported by military analysts. An influential Russian lawmaker declared: “We know these projectiles thoroughly, their operational characteristics, defensive countermeasures, we encountered them in Middle East operations, so it presents no surprises. The providers and the operators will encounter difficulties … We will identify methods to hurt those who oppose our interests.”

Ukraine's Defensive Operations Situation

Ukrainian forces were imposing substantial damage in a strategic push in eastern Ukraine, the war's main theatre, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president's account, based on a briefing from his top commander, contrasted with the Russian president's address to senior Russian officers a previous day in which he claimed Moscow's forces held the military advantage in all frontline sectors.

In an assessment from October's first week, defense researchers said Russia was suffering significant losses, particularly from drone strikes by Ukraine, in compensation of minor territorial gains. Defending units, Zelenskyy said, were “defending ourselves along all other directions”, mentioning particularly the Kupiansk area, a largely destroyed town in north-eastern Ukraine under intense attacks for several months.

Area Conditions

The regional governor in the Kherson area of southern Kherson said military strikes on midweek caused three deaths in and around the regional capital of the oblast center. Local authorities of northern Sumy, on the northern frontier with Russia, said three people died in Russian drone attacks in multiple locations. Ukrainian aerial defense said it intercepted or jammed the majority of Russian strike and decoy drones overnight into Wednesday.

A Russian attack significantly harmed one of Ukraine's thermal power plants, government sources stated on Wednesday. Two employees were harmed during the strike, based on information from energy company officials. Officials offered limited details, including the plant's location, but government officials said strikes hit critical utilities in northern Ukraine, southern Kherson and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Humanitarian Effects

In the northern Ukrainian city of northeastern Ukraine, significantly damaged by the offensive operations against the electrical grid, authorities have established temporary shelters where people can seek warmth, receive warm beverages, power electronic devices and access mental health services, according to administrative leader.

Global Response

Ukraine's ambassador to the military alliance on midweek urged NATO members to increase acquisitions of United States armaments for Ukraine. “This doesn't mean we favor US equipment instead of European or other international equipment – the challenge remains that we are asking the America for equipment that European countries don't possess,” said the diplomatic representative.

German federal police will shortly receive authorization to neutralize UAVs, government official said on midweek, after a spate of UAV observations suspected as Moscow's attempts to spy and intimidate. Presenting proposed legislation, the representative said law enforcement would receive permission “to take state-of-the-art technical action against UAV risks, for example with electromagnetic pulses, signal disruption, GPS interference, but also with direct interception”.

Regional Security Challenges

European Commission President said on midweek that Europe must ramp up its defenses to counter complex threat operations after airspace breaches, cyber-attacks and submarine infrastructure disruption. “This is not coincidental events. It is a systematic and intensifying operation,” the leader said in a address before the European parliament. “Several occurrences are coincidence, but three, five, ten – this constitutes a intentional and focused hybrid threat strategy against the European Union, and the EU needs to react.”

Refugee Situation

The Switzerland's administration has prolonged its protection status granted to people fleeing Ukraine to at least 4 March 2027. Temporary protection, which enables individuals to leave the country as well as be employed in Switzerland, is typically restricted to one year but can be renewed. “This determination reflects the continued unstable environment and ongoing military actions across extensive regions of the country,” said a Swiss government statement. “Regardless of international peace efforts, a permanent peace that would enable safe return is not projected in the coming years.”