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Ukraine has announced the commencement of large-scale manufacturing for a new locally engineered interceptor drone to enhance its aerial protection systems. Three initial producers have begun production, with an additional eleven preparing to establish assembly lines, Ukrainian military officials announced on Friday.

Advanced 'Octopus' System Tested in Combat Situations

These UAVs will be based on a domestically developed system known as “Octopus” engineered to intercept Iranian-made drones. The system underwent testing in actual battle and proved successful “at night, amid electronic warfare and flying low,” officials confirmed. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set a target of producing up to 1,000 interceptors daily.

Latest Attack on the Capital Described as Deliberate

The Ukrainian president described Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine as “intentional, premeditated and brutal” following six people were killed and many others injured in a wave of nocturnal attacks throughout Kyiv. Air raid sirens sounded in the capital shortly after midnight on Friday, with Shahed drones quickly heard overhead and heavy machine-gun fire from Ukrainian air defences.

Zelenskyy stated the nation was hit by hundreds of UAVs and multiple missiles. Those killed had been at home in a block of flats on Kyiv’s left bank during the strike. Numerous of other buildings were damaged, including the diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan.

Diplomatic Protest Following Embassy Destruction

Azerbaijan said it delivered a strong protest to the Russian ambassador this past Friday after the embassy damage. The blast from a Moscow's missile demolished a section of the compound's boundary wall and caused significant destruction to the embassy grounds, the Azerbaijani foreign ministry reported. No one injured, and an official representative confirmed the diplomatic mission in Ukraine was maintaining operations.

Moscow's Glide Bomb Manufacturing Sees Major Expansion

Russia plans to produce as many as 120,000 glide bombs in the current year, a high-ranking Ukrainian defense official disclosed, among them 500 of an innovative, extended-range model that can reach more towns and cities. Moscow's military have been launching hundreds of glide bombs daily, with the previous month's daily average standing at approximately 170, according to official military statistics.

Kyiv's Attacks Target Moscow's Energy Infrastructure

Russia’s Black Sea port of the port city halted for a period crude shipments on Friday – representing two percent of worldwide oil production – following a strike by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s general staff stated its military had fired domestically produced missiles and used multiple kinds of strike drones in the attack on Novorossiysk “as part of efforts to reduce the military and economic potential of the invading force.”

Ukrainian forces additionally targeted a processing plant in the Saratov area and an energy depot in the adjacent Engels region during the night.

International Sanctions Impact Moscow's Energy Company

Russia’s second-largest oil producer Lukoil said this past Friday it has been in talks with interested parties regarding its foreign assets following last month’s restrictions from the UK and the US and failure of a deal with the Gunvor trading house. “Final arrangements are to be disclosed once conclusive negotiations have been reached and the necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained,” the company stated.

Ukrainian President Plans Diplomatic Trip to Spanish Capital

The Ukrainian leader will visit the Spanish capital, Madrid, next Tuesday to confer with lawmakers following his trip to France, the chamber of deputies disclosed. The Ukrainian president would meet representatives from both chambers of the legislature throughout his stay, the Spanish statement said.