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Ukrainian authorities have declared the commencement of mass production for a new domestically developed interceptor drone to strengthen its aerial protection systems. The first three producers have begun production, with 11 more preparing to set up production lines, Ukrainian military officials stated this past Friday.

Advanced 'Octopus' System Tested in Battlefield Conditions

These UAVs utilize a nationally created system called “Octopus” engineered to neutralize Shahed drones. This technology has been tested in actual battle and proved successful “at night, amid electronic warfare and at low altitudes,” officials confirmed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy established a target of producing up to 1,000 interceptors daily.

Recent Attack on Kyiv Described as Deliberate

Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine as “deliberate, premeditated and wicked” after six individuals were killed and many others wounded in a wave of night-time strikes across Kyiv. Alert systems sounded in Kyiv just after 12 AM this past Friday, with Shahed drones quickly detected overhead and heavy machine-gun fire from Ukrainian air defences.

The president reported the nation was hit by hundreds of UAVs and 18 missiles. Those killed had been at home in an apartment building on the capital's left bank during the strike. Numerous of other buildings sustained damage, among them the Azerbaijani embassy.

International Protest After Embassy Destruction

Azerbaijan said it issued a strong protest to Moscow's diplomatic representative on Friday after the embassy damage. The blast from a Russian Iskander missile destroyed a section of the compound's boundary wall and caused serious damage to the diplomatic compound, officials from Baku stated. No one injured, and an official representative said the diplomatic mission in Ukraine was continuing to operate.

Russian Glide Bomb Manufacturing Experiences Major Expansion

Moscow plans to produce as many as 120,000 guided aerial bombs this 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 were firing 200 to 250 aerial bombs per day, with the previous month's daily average being about 170, according to defence ministry data.

Kyiv's Strikes Focus on Russian Oil Facilities

Moscow's maritime terminal of Novorossiysk halted for a period oil exports this past Friday – equivalent to two percent of global supply – after a strike by Ukrainian forces. Military commanders in Kyiv stated its forces had launched domestically produced missiles and used various types of strike drones in the attack on Novorossiysk “within the framework of operations to diminish the military and economic potential of the Russian aggressor.”

Ukrainian forces separately targeted an oil refinery in the Saratov area and a fuel storage facility in the adjacent Engels region overnight.

International Restrictions Impact Russian Oil Producer

The number two energy company Lukoil announced on Friday it has been in talks with interested parties concerning its international holdings after last month’s restrictions from the UK and the US and failure of a deal with commodity trader Gunvor. “The specific deal are to be disclosed once conclusive negotiations are completed and required authorizations have been obtained,” the company stated.

Ukrainian President Schedules Visit to Spain

Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to travel to the city of Madrid, the Spanish capital, next Tuesday to confer with parliament members following his trip to France, the chamber of deputies disclosed. The Ukrainian president will convene with representatives from all houses of parliament throughout his stay, the Spanish statement confirmed.