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Russian authorities is executing a “reflexive control” campaign of threats to discourage the America from delivering long-range missiles to Ukraine, based on analysis from conflict researchers. An influential legislator declared: “We are familiar with these projectiles very well, their operational characteristics, defensive countermeasures, we tested against them in Syria, so this is not innovative. The providers and those who use them will encounter difficulties … We will identify methods to target those who create problems for us.”

Ukrainian Counteroffensive Situation

Ukrainian forces were imposing substantial damage in a counteroffensive in eastern Donetsk region, the primary conflict zone, Ukraine's leader reported on midweek. Zelenskyy's assessment, following a briefing from his chief of defense, differed from the Russian president's address to defense leadership a prior day in which he said Russian troops held the military advantage in every combat zone.

According to analysis from early October, conflict monitors said Russia was incurring heavy casualty rates, particularly from Ukrainian drone attacks, in return for small operational progress. Kyiv's troops, Zelenskyy said, were “defending ourselves along various sectors”, referring specifically to the Kupiansk area, a heavily damaged urban area in the northeastern front under sustained offensive operations for several months.

Area Developments

Administrative officials in the Kherson area of the Kherson oblast said Russian attacks on midweek caused three deaths in and around the urban center of the oblast center. Administrative officials of the Sumy oblast, on the northern frontier with the Russian Federation, said three people died in UAV assaults in multiple locations. Kyiv's air command said it successfully countered the majority of attack and decoy UAVs through the evening.

An offensive strike seriously damaged critical infrastructure, authorities said on Wednesday. Facility personnel were wounded in the assault, as reported by power utility representatives. They provided no further information, including the site's whereabouts, but Ukrainian authorities said attacks targeted critical utilities in northern Ukraine, southern Kherson and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Public Consequences

In the northern Ukrainian city of northeastern Ukraine, severely affected by the military campaign against the energy infrastructure, authorities have put up tents where civilians are able to seek warmth, drink hot tea, power electronic devices and access mental health services, based on information from regional head.

International Measures

The Ukrainian diplomat to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on midweek called on NATO members to accelerate procurement of US weapons for Kyiv. “This doesn't mean we prefer US equipment rather than European or some other European weapons – the challenge remains that we are requesting the United States for systems that European nations can't provide,” said the diplomatic representative.

Germany's national police will shortly receive authorization to intercept unmanned aerial vehicles, interior minister announced on midweek, after a spate of UAV observations suspected as Russian efforts to conduct surveillance and threaten. Unveiling a draft law, the representative said law enforcement would receive permission “to employ state-of-the-art technical action against drone threats, for example with electronic countermeasures, signal disruption, navigation system disruption, but also with kinetic methods”.

Regional Security Challenges

European leader said on Wednesday that the European Union should enhance its security measures to deter Moscow's multifaceted attacks in response to aerial violations, digital assaults and damage to undersea cables. “This is not random harassment. This represents a systematic and intensifying operation,” the leader said in a address before the European parliament. “Two incidents are random chance, but three, five, ten – that represents a planned and specific ambiguous warfare operation against EU nations, and Europe must respond.”

Displacement Situation

The Swiss government has continued its temporary shelter granted to Ukrainian refugees to at least 4 March 2027. Humanitarian status, which permits refugees to journey internationally as well as work in Switzerland, is generally limited to one year but can be continued. “This determination demonstrates the ongoing precarious security situation and ongoing military actions across large parts of Ukraine,” said a Swiss government statement. “Regardless of international peace efforts, a enduring resolution that would allow for protected homecoming is not projected in the medium term.”