🔗 Share this article Analysts Spot Kremlin Intimidation Campaign Targeting Tomahawk Employment The Kremlin is executing a “reflexive control” campaign of threats to prevent the US from providing precision-guided weapons to Ukrainian forces, according to military analysts. An influential Russian lawmaker stated: “We know these projectiles completely, their flight patterns, methods to intercept them, we tested against them in Middle East operations, so this is not innovative. Those delivering them and the deploying forces will face consequences … We will find ways to damage those who cause us trouble.” Ukrainian Counteroffensive Progress Ukrainian forces were causing significant casualties in a strategic push in eastern Ukraine, the central battlefield, Ukraine's leader said on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president's account, based on a communication with his top commander, contradicted the Russian president's remarks to senior Russian officers a previous day in which he claimed the invading army held the military advantage in throughout the battle lines. In an assessment dated early October, conflict monitors said Russia was suffering significant losses, particularly from drone strikes by Ukraine, in return for limited tactical advances. Defending units, the president stated, were “defending ourselves along various sectors”, referring specifically to the Kupiansk area, a heavily damaged town in Ukraine's northeast under heavy Russian assaults for an extended period. Local Conditions Administrative officials in the Kherson area of Kherson said offensive operations on Wednesday resulted in three fatalities in and around the city of Kherson city. The governor of northern Sumy, on the northern border with neighboring Russia, said three fatalities occurred in UAV assaults in different districts. Ukrainian aerial defense said it intercepted or jammed the majority of Russian strike and decoy drones through the evening. A Russian attack seriously damaged one of Ukraine's thermal power plants, officials reported on Wednesday. Two workers were wounded in the assault, as reported by industry sources. Sources gave no further information, about the facility's position, but national sources said attacks targeted power facilities in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv, the Kherson area and eastern Ukraine. Humanitarian Consequences In the northern Ukrainian city of northeastern Ukraine, severely affected by the military campaign against the electrical grid, authorities have established temporary shelters where people can seek warmth, access hot drinks, maintain communication capability and access mental health services, based on information from regional head. Diplomatic Measures Ukraine's ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Wednesday called on European partners to accelerate procurement of US weapons for Ukrainian forces. “The situation isn't that we prioritize American weapons rather than European or other international equipment – the reality is that we are requesting the America for systems that EU members are unable to supply,” said Ukraine's NATO envoy. German federal police will immediately gain permission to shoot down drones, interior minister said on Wednesday, in response to numerous UAV observations suspected as Russian efforts to conduct surveillance and threaten. Presenting proposed legislation, the official said security forces could legally “to employ advanced technological measures against unmanned aircraft dangers, such as EMP technology, jamming, satellite signal blocking, but also with physical means”. European Protection Challenges European Commission President declared on midweek that Europe must enhance its security measures to respond to Russia's “hybrid warfare” following airspace breaches, cyber-attacks and damage to undersea cables. “This is not random harassment. They constitute a organized and growing strategy,” the representative said in a address before the European lawmakers. “A couple of events are coincidence, but multiple, repeated, numerous – this constitutes a planned and specific ambiguous warfare operation against Europe, and Europe must respond.” Displacement Situation The Swiss authorities has prolonged its temporary shelter provided to Ukrainian refugees to at least 4 March 2027. Temporary protection, which permits refugees to leave the country as well as seek employment there, is typically restricted to a single year but can be extended. “This determination shows the persistent precarious security situation and continuing offensive operations across significant Ukrainian territory,” said a Swiss government statement. “Despite international peace efforts, a enduring resolution that would allow for secure repatriation is not expected in the foreseeable future.”