"Analysts warn of Kremlin fear tactics over Tomahawk missile use in Ukraine"

The Kremlin is engaging in a campaign of warnings aimed at dissuading the US from providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). On Wednesday, Andrei Kartapolov, a high-ranking Russian official, stated: “We are familiar with these missiles, their flight patterns, and how to intercept them—we have experience from Syria. There is nothing new here. However, those who supply and use them will face consequences … We will respond to those who provoke us.” Meanwhile, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov noted that the progress toward a peace agreement in Ukraine following talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska had significantly diminished.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly caused substantial losses during a counteroffensive in the eastern Donetsk region, the primary area of conflict, as reported by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. The Ukrainian leader’s statement, based on an update from his military commander, contrasted with Putin’s earlier remarks to senior Russian officers, where he claimed Moscow held the upper hand across all battlefronts. Zelenskyy mentioned a detailed discussion with Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, focusing on the Dobropillia operations, where Ukraine has seen progress near Pokrovsk, a critical logistical point targeted by Russian forces.

An ISW assessment from October 7 noted that Russian forces were sustaining heavy casualties, particularly due to Ukrainian drone strikes, while achieving minimal tactical gains. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukrainian troops were holding their positions across other fronts, including Kupiansk, a heavily damaged town in northeast Ukraine under prolonged Russian assault. He described the situation near Novopavlivka in Zaporizhzhia as challenging but noted that defensive efforts were yielding positive results. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry asserted control over Novohryhorivka in southern Zaporizhzhia, though independent verification of battlefield claims remained unconfirmed.

In southern Kherson, regional officials reported three fatalities due to Russian strikes on and near the regional capital. The governor of Sumy, near Russia’s northern border, stated that three people were killed in drone attacks across multiple districts. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted or disrupted 154 out of 183 Russian drones overnight. In Russia’s Belgorod region, a missile attack killed three in the village of Maslova Pristan, according to local officials.

Ukrainian authorities reported significant damage to a thermal power plant in a Russian strike on Wednesday, with two workers injured, as confirmed by DTEK, Ukraine’s energy company.