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Ukraine has announced the commencement of mass production for a new locally engineered interceptor drone to enhance its aerial protection systems. Three initial producers have started manufacturing, with an additional eleven getting ready to establish production lines, the defence ministry stated this past Friday.

'Octopus' Technology Tested in Combat Situations

These UAVs will be based on a domestically developed system called “Octopus” designed to intercept Iranian-made drones. This technology underwent testing in actual battle and proved successful “during nighttime, amid electronic warfare and flying low,” officials confirmed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy established a target of producing up to 1,000 interceptors daily.

Recent Assault on the Capital Described as Calculated

The Ukrainian president described Russia’s latest attack against Ukraine as “deliberate, premeditated and wicked” following six people were killed and dozens wounded in a wave of nocturnal attacks throughout Kyiv. Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv shortly after 12 AM on Friday, with enemy UAVs quickly detected overhead and intensive defensive fire from Ukraine's aerial protection units.

The president reported the nation was targeted by hundreds of UAVs and 18 missiles. Those killed were inside their residences in an apartment building on Kyiv’s left bank during the strike. Numerous of additional structures were damaged, including the diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan.

Diplomatic Protest After Diplomatic Compound Destruction

Azerbaijan announced it issued a strong protest to Moscow's diplomatic representative on Friday after the embassy damage. An explosion from a Russian Iskander missile destroyed part of the compound's boundary wall and resulted in significant destruction to the embassy grounds, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry stated. There were no personnel injured, and a ministry spokesperson said the Kyiv embassy was maintaining operations.

Moscow's Glide Bomb Manufacturing Sees Significant Increase

Russia intends to manufacture as many as 120,000 guided aerial bombs in the current year, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official disclosed, among them 500 of an innovative, longer-range version that is capable of targeting more towns and cities. Russian forces have been launching hundreds of aerial bombs daily, with last month’s average daily usage standing at about 170, according to defence ministry data.

Ukrainian Strikes Target Russian Energy Infrastructure

Moscow's maritime terminal of the port city temporarily suspended crude shipments on Friday – representing 2% of worldwide oil production – after a strike by Ukrainian forces. Military commanders in Kyiv said its military had fired domestically produced missiles and used multiple kinds of attack UAVs in the attack on Novorossiysk “within the framework of efforts to diminish the strategic capabilities of the Russian aggressor.”

Ukrainian forces separately struck an oil refinery in the Saratov area and a fuel storage facility in the adjacent Engels region during the night.

International Restrictions Impact Moscow's Oil Producer

The number two oil producer Lukoil said on Friday it has been in talks with potential buyers regarding its foreign assets following recent sanctions from the UK and the US and failure of a deal with the Gunvor trading house. “The specific deal are to be disclosed once the final agreements are completed and required authorizations are secured,” the company commented.

Ukrainian President Schedules Diplomatic Trip to Spain

The Ukrainian leader is scheduled to travel to the Spanish capital, Madrid, next Tuesday to confer with parliament members a day after his trip to France, the chamber of deputies disclosed. The Ukrainian president will convene with deputies from both chambers of the legislature throughout his stay, the Spanish statement confirmed.