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Ukraine has announced the commencement of large-scale manufacturing for an innovative domestically developed defensive UAV to reinforce its air defences. The first three manufacturers have begun manufacturing, with 11 more preparing to establish assembly lines, the defence ministry announced on Friday.

Advanced 'Octopus' System Proven in Combat Conditions

These UAVs will be based on a domestically developed system called “Octopus” designed to neutralize Shahed drones. This technology has been tested in combat and demonstrated successful “during nighttime, amid electronic warfare and flying low,” officials stated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy established an ambitious goal of producing up to 1,000 interceptors daily.

Recent Attack on the Capital Characterized as Calculated

The Ukrainian president described Russia’s latest attack against Ukraine as “intentional, premeditated and brutal” after six people lost their lives and dozens wounded in a series of nocturnal attacks across Kyiv. Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv shortly after midnight on Friday, with Shahed drones soon heard overhead and intensive defensive fire from Ukrainian air defences.

The president stated the country was hit by hundreds of UAVs and 18 missiles. The deceased were at home in an apartment building on the capital's left bank during the strike. Numerous of additional structures sustained damage, including the Azerbaijani embassy.

Diplomatic Objection After Embassy Damage

The Azerbaijani government announced it issued a strong protest to Moscow's diplomatic representative this past Friday following the embassy damage. An explosion from a Russian Iskander missile destroyed part of the embassy’s perimeter wall and resulted in significant destruction to the diplomatic compound, officials from Baku stated. No one was hurt, and an official representative confirmed the Kyiv embassy was continuing to operate.

Russian Aerial Bomb Production Experiences Significant Increase

Russia plans to manufacture as many as 120,000 guided aerial bombs in the current year, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official said, including 500 of a new, longer-range version that can reach additional urban centers. Moscow's military have been launching hundreds of glide bombs daily, with the previous month's average daily usage being about 170, according to official military statistics.

Ukrainian Attacks Focus on Russian Energy Infrastructure

Russia’s Black Sea port of the port city halted for a period crude shipments this past Friday – equivalent to 2% of global supply – after a strike by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s general staff stated its forces had fired domestically produced missiles and deployed multiple kinds of attack UAVs in the attack on Novorossiysk “within the framework of efforts to diminish the strategic capabilities of the Russian aggressor.”

Ukraine separately targeted a processing plant in the Saratov area and a fuel storage facility in the adjacent Engels region during the night.

International Sanctions Impact Russian Oil Producer

The number two oil producer Lukoil said on Friday it has been in talks with interested parties regarding its foreign assets following last month’s restrictions from Western nations and the collapse of a deal with commodity trader Gunvor. “Final arrangements are to be disclosed once conclusive negotiations have been reached and required authorizations are secured,” Lukoil commented.

Ukrainian President Schedules Visit to Spanish Capital

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit the Spanish capital, the Spanish capital, on Tuesday to confer with parliament members following his visit to Paris, Spanish parliamentary officials disclosed. The Ukrainian president will convene with representatives from both chambers of the legislature throughout his stay, the Spanish statement said.