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Ukraine has announced the commencement of large-scale manufacturing for an innovative locally engineered interceptor drone to strengthen its air defences. Three initial producers have started production, with 11 more preparing to set up assembly lines, Ukrainian military officials stated on Friday.

'Octopus' Technology Tested in Combat Situations

These UAVs will be based on a domestically developed technology called “Octopus” designed to neutralize Iranian-made drones. The system underwent testing in actual battle and proved successful “during nighttime, under jamming and flying low,” the ministry confirmed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set an ambitious goal of producing as many as 1,000 interceptors each day.

Recent Attack on Kyiv Characterized as Deliberate

Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Russia’s latest attack against Ukraine as “intentional, premeditated and brutal” following six people were killed and many others injured in a series of nocturnal attacks throughout Kyiv. Air raid sirens activated in Kyiv shortly after midnight this past Friday, with Shahed drones soon heard overhead and heavy machine-gun fire from Ukraine's aerial protection units.

The president stated the country was hit by hundreds of UAVs and multiple missiles. Those killed were inside their residences in a block of flats on Kyiv’s left bank during the strike. Dozens of other buildings were damaged, including the diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan.

International Protest After Diplomatic Compound Damage

Azerbaijan announced it issued a formal objection to Moscow's diplomatic representative this past Friday after the embassy damage. The blast from a Russian Iskander missile destroyed a section of the compound's boundary wall and resulted in significant destruction to the diplomatic compound, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry reported. No one injured, and an official representative said the Kyiv embassy was maintaining operations.

Russian Aerial Bomb Manufacturing Sees Major Expansion

Moscow intends to manufacture as many as 120,000 guided aerial bombs this year, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official disclosed, among them 500 of an innovative, extended-range model that is capable of targeting more towns and cities. Russian forces have been launching 200 to 250 aerial bombs per day, with the previous month's average daily usage being about 170, based on official military statistics.

Ukrainian Attacks Target Russian Energy Infrastructure

Russia’s Black Sea port of the port city halted for a period crude shipments on Friday – equivalent to two percent of global supply – following a Ukrainian missile and drone attack. Military commanders in Kyiv stated its forces had fired domestically produced missiles and deployed multiple kinds of attack UAVs in the assault against Novorossiysk “within the framework of operations to diminish the military and economic potential of the invading force.”

Ukraine additionally targeted an oil refinery in Russia’s Saratov region and an energy depot in nearby Engels overnight.

Global Sanctions Impact Russian Energy Company

Russia’s second-largest energy company Lukoil said this past Friday it has been in talks with interested parties regarding its foreign assets following last month’s sanctions from the UK and the US and failure of an agreement with the Gunvor trading house. “The specific deal are to be disclosed after the final agreements have been reached and the necessary regulatory approvals are secured,” the company stated.

Ukrainian President Schedules Visit to Spain

The Ukrainian leader will visit the Spanish capital, Madrid, on Tuesday to meet with lawmakers a day after his trip to France, the chamber of deputies announced. The Ukrainian president would meet deputies from both chambers of the legislature throughout his stay, an official announcement said.