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Ukrainian authorities have declared the commencement of mass production for an innovative locally engineered interceptor drone to strengthen its air defences. Three initial producers have begun production, with 11 more getting ready to establish assembly lines, the defence ministry announced on Friday.

Advanced 'Octopus' System Tested in Battlefield Conditions

The drones will be based on a nationally created system called “Octopus” engineered to neutralize Iranian-made drones. This technology underwent testing in actual battle and proved effective “during nighttime, amid electronic warfare and flying low,” officials stated. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set an ambitious goal of manufacturing up to 1,000 interceptors daily.

Recent Attack on Kyiv Characterized as Calculated

The Ukrainian president characterized Russia’s latest attack against Ukraine as “deliberate, calculated and wicked” after six people lost their lives and dozens wounded in a wave of night-time strikes across Kyiv. Alert systems activated in Kyiv shortly after midnight on Friday, with Shahed drones quickly heard overhead and intensive defensive fire from Ukrainian air defences.

The president stated the nation was hit by hundreds of UAVs and multiple missiles. The deceased were at home in a block of flats on the capital's left bank when it was hit. Dozens of additional structures sustained damage, including the Azerbaijani embassy.

International Objection After Diplomatic Compound Destruction

Azerbaijan said it delivered a formal objection to Moscow's diplomatic representative on Friday following the destruction at its diplomatic compound. The blast from a Russian Iskander missile destroyed a section of the compound's boundary wall and resulted in significant destruction to the embassy grounds, officials from Baku reported. There were no personnel was hurt, and an official representative confirmed the diplomatic mission in Ukraine was continuing to operate.

Russian Glide Bomb Manufacturing Sees Major Expansion

Russia plans to manufacture as many as 120,000 guided aerial bombs in the current year, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official said, among them 500 of an innovative, longer-range version that can reach additional urban centers. Moscow's military were firing hundreds of aerial bombs daily, with the previous month's daily average standing at about 170, according to official military statistics.

Kyiv's Strikes Target Russian Energy Infrastructure

Russia’s Black Sea port of the port city temporarily suspended oil exports this past Friday – equivalent to 2% of worldwide oil production – after a strike by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine’s general staff said its military had fired domestically produced missiles and deployed multiple kinds of strike drones in the attack on Novorossiysk “as part of operations to reduce the strategic capabilities of the invading force.”

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

Global Sanctions Affect Moscow's Oil Producer

Russia’s second-largest energy company Lukoil said on Friday it has been in talks with potential buyers concerning its foreign assets following recent sanctions from Western nations and failure of an agreement with the Gunvor trading house. “Final arrangements will be announced once conclusive negotiations are completed and the necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained,” the company commented.

Zelenskyy Schedules Visit to Spanish Capital

The Ukrainian leader will visit the city of Madrid, the Spanish capital, next Tuesday to meet with lawmakers following his trip to France, Spanish parliamentary officials disclosed. Zelenskyy will convene with deputies from all houses of the legislature throughout his stay, an official announcement confirmed.