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The Kremlin is executing a “reflexive control” campaign of intimidations to discourage the United States from providing long-range missiles to Ukraine, as reported by defense experts. A high-ranking Russian lawmaker stated: “We know these missiles very well, how they fly, how to shoot them down, we tested against them in Syria, so there is nothing new. The providers and the deploying forces will have problems … We will develop strategies to target those who cause us trouble.”

Kyiv's Military Push Progress

Ukrainian forces were imposing substantial damage in a counteroffensive in eastern Ukraine, the central battlefield, the Ukrainian president stated on Wednesday. Zelenskyy's assessment, based on a report by his chief of defense, differed from Moscow's remarks to defense leadership a prior day in which he said Moscow's forces held the strategic initiative in throughout the battle lines.

In an assessment from early October, conflict monitors said Russia was suffering significant losses, mainly because of drone strikes by Ukraine, in compensation of limited tactical advances. Defending units, the president stated, were “defending ourselves along multiple fronts”, mentioning particularly northeastern Kupiansk, a largely destroyed town in the northeastern front under heavy Russian assaults for an extended period.

Area Developments

Administrative officials in southern Ukraine of the Kherson oblast said military strikes on midweek killed three people in and around the city of Kherson city. Administrative officials of the Sumy oblast, on the northern border with the Russian Federation, said three people died in unmanned aerial strikes in multiple locations. Kyiv's air command said it neutralized or disrupted 154 out of 183 Russian strike and decoy drones overnight into Wednesday.

A Russian attack substantially impacted one of Ukraine's thermal power plants, officials reported on Wednesday. Two employees were harmed during the strike, based on information from power utility representatives. They provided no further information, including the plant's location, but Ukrainian authorities said strikes hit energy infrastructure in northern Ukraine, southern Kherson and the Dnipropetrovsk area.

Civilian Consequences

In the north-eastern Sumy town of the Shostka area, hit hard by the offensive operations against the energy infrastructure, local government has put up tents where people can seek warmth, drink hot tea, charge their phones and access mental health services, according to administrative leader.

Global Measures

Ukraine's ambassador to the military alliance on Wednesday encouraged NATO members to step up purchases of US weapons for Ukraine. “It's not that we prioritize American weapons instead of European or other international equipment – the reality is that we are asking the United States for systems that European nations are unable to supply,” said the diplomatic representative.

Federal law enforcement will shortly receive authorization to shoot down drones, security chief declared on midweek, after a spate of UAV observations believed to be Moscow's attempts to spy and intimidate. Unveiling a draft law, the minister said law enforcement would receive permission “to employ advanced technological measures against drone threats, including EMP technology, signal disruption, GPS interference, but also with direct interception”.

Regional Defense Concerns

EU chief said on midweek that EU nations need to ramp up its protective capabilities to counter complex threat operations in response to airspace breaches, computer network operations and submarine infrastructure disruption. “These aren't isolated incidents. It is a coherent and escalating campaign,” the representative said in a address before the European parliament. “Several occurrences are coincidence, but multiple, repeated, numerous – this is a intentional and focused ambiguous warfare operation against Europe, and the EU needs to react.”

Displacement Conditions

The Switzerland's administration has continued its temporary shelter provided to people fleeing Ukraine to at least 4 March 2027. Humanitarian status, which allows people to leave the country as well as be employed in Switzerland, is normally capped at a single year but can be renewed. “The ruling reflects the continued precarious security situation and persistent Russian attacks across large parts of Ukraine,” said a official communication. “Notwithstanding worldwide negotiation attempts, a enduring resolution that would allow for safe return is not expected in the foreseeable future.”