- Sputnik International, 1920, 11.10.2022
Russian Precision Strikes on Ukraine
On 10 October, Russia conducted precision strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure, which was later confirmed by the country's President Vladimir Putin. The strikes came in the wake of a terrorist attack against the Russian Crimean Bridge by the Ukrainian special services.
A Ukrainian Military Forces serviceman looks at Next generation Light Anti-tank Weapon (NLAW) Swedish-British anti-aircraft missile launchers before taking part in a drill at the firing ground of the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security, near the western Ukrainian city of Lvov on January 28, 2022 - Sputnik International

LIVE UPDATES: Russia Seeks Setting Up Commission on US, Ukraine Bio Labs Under UN Auspices

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Russia has expressed concerns that Kiev is planning to detonate a "dirty bomb" in Ukraine and accuse Moscow of using weapons of mass destruction.
Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are preparing to visit two nuclear facilities in Ukraine in the coming days, director general Rafael Grossi said, amid warnings from Russia that Kiev is plotting a provocation with the use of a "dirty bomb".
A dirty bomb contains radioactive isotopes and an explosive load that disperses radioactive material across large areas.
On Monday, the Russian mission to the United Nations sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that the Kiev regime was planning to develop a "dirty bomb" and then to accuse Russia of using a tactical nuclear weapon. The letter also urged western countries and Guterres to exert their influence on Kiev and prevent a heinous crime from occurring.
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00:25 GMT 26.10.2022
Moldovan Authorities May Deploy NATO Troops In Country at Any Time - Ex-President Dodon
The Moldovan authorities can use the constitutional court to deploy NATO troops in the country at any time, despite the state's neutrality, former President Igor Dodon said in an interview with Sputnik.
"In 2016-2017, the Constitutional Court of Moldova adopted a ruling, in line with which the status of neutrality does not play any role at all. It is written there that if the government considers it necessary for some forces to intervene to solve its security problems, this can be done despite the neutral status. There is such a decision of the Constitutional Court, it is in force, no one has canceled it," Dodon said.
00:01 GMT 26.10.2022
Two New NASAMS Systems Are Being Installed in Ukraine 'Today' - Raytheon CEO
Two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) recently delivered to the US government are currently being installed in Ukraine, the company's CEO Greg Hayes said in an interview.
"We did just deliver two NASAMS systems... we delivered them to the [US] government a couple of weeks ago, they're being installed in Ukraine today," Hayes told CNBC on Tuesday.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Sputnik for requests for comment on this matter.
21:35 GMT 25.10.2022
Russia Seeks Setting Up Commission on US, Ukraine Bio Labs Under UN Auspices - Letter
Russia seeks establishing a commission under UN Security Council auspices that would require Washington and Kiev to clarify their compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention (BTWC) with respect to their activities in biological laboratories in Ukraine, the Russian mission to the United Nations said in a letter to the top UN officials.
The letter, signed by the Russian Ambassador to the world body Vasily Nebenzia, was addressed to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UN Security Council President for the month of October, Michel Xavier Biang. A draft statement was attached to the letter and its circulation is required.
"The draft resolution we propose is aimed to set up a commission to investigate the claims against the US and Ukraine contained in the complaint of the Russian Federation regarding the compliance with their obligations under the BTWC in the context of the activities of biological laboratories in the territory of Ukraine," the letter said on Tuesday.
The commission would manage to clarify all circumstances of Washington and Kiev’s activities with biological laboratories on Ukrainian territory, the letter said.
It is expected that the commission would produce a report that would then be discussed by the parties to the BTWC during the Ninth Review Conference set to be held in Geneva on November 28 - December 16.
21:17 GMT 25.10.2022
US Officials Meet With Diamond Industry to Discuss Russia Sanctions - State Dept.
A group of US officials, led by the State Department’s head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination James O’Brien, met with representatives of the diamond industry to discuss the implementation of sanctions imposed on Russia.
"[Ambassador] James O’Brien, led an interagency discussion October 24 with the US offices of leading diamond retailers, manufacturers, and laboratories," the State Department said in a press release. "The meeting focused on the importance of the diamond industry’s robust implementation of Russia-focused sanctions and broader due diligence standards."
The United States stands ready to continue imposing sanctions on Russia for its special military operation in Ukraine and alleged destabilizing activities in Africa, the release said.
In March, President Joe Biden announced a ban on US imports of seafood, alcohol and diamonds from Russia over Moscow's special military operation in Ukraine.
On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested help to defend them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. Western countries have imposed comprehensive sanctions on Russia that include airspace closures and restrictive measures targeting numerous Russian officials and entities, media, financial institutions and sectors of the economy.
20:20 GMT 25.10.2022
Potential Use of Dirty Bomb by Kiev 'Far From Amateur Sabotage' - Russian Envoy to US
Preparations for a potential use of a so-called "dirty bomb" by Kiev is far from being a case of "amateur sabotage," Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said in an interview on Tuesday.
"The use of a 'dirty bomb' is far from amateur sabotage," Antonov told Newsweek. "The detonation of a radiological explosive device will have a scale comparable to the explosion of a low-yield nuclear weapon. The blast wave will disperse radioactive substances over the area of up to several thousand square meters. Contaminated territories will turn into an exclusion zone for 30-50 years."
The Russian ambassador also said that Moscow is urging the US public to take the issue of dirty bombs seriously.
"We urge the American public to reflect on this question. Is this price too high to settle political scores with us?" Antonov asked.
On Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called his French, UK, US and Turkish counterparts to express Russia's concern that Kiev was preparing a provocation by detonating a dirty bomb in order to blame Moscow for the use of weapons of mass destruction. According to well informed sources, Kiev has already begun the practical implementation of this plan under the guidance of its Western curators with the work on creating the dirty bomb being already at the final stage.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denied the allegations and said that Kiev remained committed to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The top diplomats of France, the United Kingdom and the United States also rejected Russia's claims as false.
20:19 GMT 25.10.2022
Moscow Calls PACE's Attitude Toward Russia Aggressive
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) conducts an extremely aggressive policy toward Russia, which is confirmed by another resolution against Russia containing unacceptable appeals to the Council of Europe's member-states, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
On October 13, PACE adopted a resolution declaring the current Russian regime "a terrorist one." PACE also called the referendums on the accession of new regions to Russia "an affront to international law" and "null and void, with no legal or political effects."
"The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adheres to an extremely aggressive line, at its meeting on October 13 it approved another anti-Russian resolution containing unacceptable appeals to the Council of Europe states. This only confirms the rightness of the decision taken by Russia in March 2022 to leave the Council of Europe, which has lost its objectivity, deliberately ignoring the horrors that the Kiev regime has been committing for the last eight years in Donbas, firing at civilians," the ministry said.
On March 15, Russia decided to withdraw from the Council and the European Convention on Human Rights in response to the suspension of its membership over the military operation in Ukraine. On the following day, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted in favor of excluding Russia from the organization.
20:18 GMT 25.10.2022
Ukraine to Involve Unemployed in Community Work for Military - Economy Minister
Unemployed Ukrainians will be assigned community work, including that in the interests of the military, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on Tuesday.
"Ukrainians in search of work will be able to join the country's 'Army of reconstruction'. Under this program, the unemployed can be involved in performing work that is useful for the public, is needed in the regions... Such work can be aimed at meeting the needs of the armed forces of Ukraine, other military formations and civil protection forces, and ensuring the general needs of the economy and the life of the population," Svyrydenko said on social media.
The unemployed may create and fortify roadblocks, harvest firewood for the military and the population, carry out various repair and restoration tasks, and sort humanitarian aid. Ukraine plans to pay the minimum monthly wage of about $183 for that, the minister stated.
Svyrydenko said on Monday that the unemployment rate in Ukraine is expected to reach 30% by the end of the year.
20:17 GMT 25.10.2022
German President Promises Berlin Will Deliver Two MLRS to Kiev
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that he promised his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, that Berlin will deliver to MARS Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and four Panzerhaubitze 2000 to Kiev.
"Today I promised Mr. president [Zelensky] that two MARS systems, as well as four of our Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers, will soon be transferred. In the coming days, they will be transferred to Ukraine," Steinmeier said during a briefing in Kiev.
20:15 GMT 25.10.2022
Pentagon Says US Continues to Provide Ukraine Info to Conduct Operations Against Russia
The United States continues to provide Ukraine with information to support their operations against Russian forces, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said on Tuesday.
"We regularly communicate with our Ukrainian counterparts on a variety of levels, and have been doing that for a very long time, going as far back as 2014. We do provide Ukraine with information to enable them to make decisions and conduct operations," Ryder said during a press briefing. "These are Ukrainian operations, they’re making the decisions and they’re executing their plans."
In May, former Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the US does not provide intelligence on the location of Russian military leadership or participate in targeting decisions.
The US has provided Ukraine material and informational assistance since the launch of Russia’s special military operation on February 24.
20:13 GMT 25.10.2022
US Notified About Russia’s Annual Nuclear Exercise Grom - Pentagon
The United States has been notified about Russia’s annual nuclear exercise Grom and Washington considers it to be in compliance with the existing transparency commitments, US Defense Department spokesperson Pat Ryder said on Tuesday.
"Yes, the US was notified and, as we've highlighted before, this is a routine annual exercise by Russia, and so, in this regard, Russia is complying with its arms control obligations, and its transparency commitments to make those notifications and so that is something that we'll continue to keep an eye on," Ryder said during a press briefing.
Russia will conduct its annual strategic nuclear exercise Grom that tests the country's nuclear-capable systems. While the location of the Grom exercise is currently unknown, NATO's similar Steadfast Noon exercise is set to take place some 600 miles away from Russia, according to US officials.
20:12 GMT 25.10.2022
Biden Says Russia Would Make 'Serious Mistake' If Tactical Nuke Used in Ukraine
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Russia would make a serious mistake it if used tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
"Russia will be making an incredibly serious mistake to use a tactical nuclear weapon," Biden said during a press conference.
Biden further said he cannot confirm claims that Russia is allegedly preparing a false flag operation to use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine.
On Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed to his French, UK, US and Turkish counterparts his concern that Kiev, according to credible sources in various countries, including Ukraine, was preparing a provocation related to the detonation of a dirty bomb on its own territory, in order to blame Moscow for the use of weapons of mass destruction.
According to the sources, Kiev has already begun the practical implementation of this plan under the guidance of its Western curators, with the work to create the bomb already at the final stage.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in turn, denied the allegations and said that Kiev remained committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The top diplomats of France, the UK, and the US also rejected Russia's claims as false and said that "the world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation."
20:10 GMT 25.10.2022
Kiev in Fuss After Russian Statement on ‘Dirty Bomb’ - Mission
Kiev regime is experiencing a fuss because of the Russian statements about the dirty bomb and there are signals that they are trying to curtail this program, Russian deputy envoy to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Tuesday.
"There has been fuss in the leading circles of Kiev because of the statements of the Russian Federation on the dirty bomb, there are signals that they are trying to ‘curtail’ this program," the statement said.
On Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed to his French, UK, US and Turkish counterparts his concern that Kiev, according to credible sources in various countries, including Ukraine, was preparing a provocation related to the detonation of a dirty bomb on its own territory, in order to blame Moscow for the use of weapons of mass destruction.
According to the sources, Kiev has already begun the practical implementation of this plan under the guidance of its Western curators, with the work to create the bomb already at the final stage.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in turn, denied the allegations and said that Kiev remained committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The top diplomats of France, the UK, and the US also rejected Russia's claims as false and said that "the world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation."
20:08 GMT 25.10.2022
Russia Requests UN Security Council Meeting Thursday on Ukraine Biological Laboratories
Russia has requested a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue of biological laboratories in Ukraine, the Russian mission to the United Nations said.
"We requested a meeting in two days in line with Article 6 of the Biological Weapons Convention," the statement said on Tuesday.
17:46 GMT 25.10.2022
Switzerland Refuses to Supply Weapons to Kiev - President
Swiss President Ignazio Cassis reaffirmed on Tuesday that Bern, while remaining an important partner to Kiev, would not supply Ukraine with weapons.

"Switzerland remains a dependable partner. We are focusing our efforts on those areas where our added value is the biggest and where our expertise is most useful. As a neutral country, we do not supply weapons," Cassis said on the sidelines of the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernization of Ukraine in Berlin.

Cassis added that Switzerland recognizes Ukraine's territorial integrity and national sovereignty and called for dialogue among all parties involved to help rebuild the country.
17:20 GMT 25.10.2022
Russia Requests UNSC Meeting on Biolabs in Ukraine For Thursday - Mission
16:00 GMT 25.10.2022
German President Spends One Hour in Bomb Shelter in Ukraine During Air Raid - Reports
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spent one hour in a bomb shelter in the Ukrainian city of Koriukivka in the Chernigov region due to an air raid alert, German media reported on Tuesday.
"Air alert! Just a few minutes after arriving in Koriukivka in northern Ukraine, president Steinmeier has to go to a bomb shelter," Matthias Deiss, a journalist working for German broadcaster ARD, said on Twitter and posted a video showing Steinmeier going to a bomb shelter.

While staying in the shelter, Steinmeier talked with some of the city's residents and the mayor, the journalist said.
Steinmeier came to Ukraine on Tuesday for the first time since the start of Russia's special military operation to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev.
13:25 GMT 25.10.2022
Moscow Submitted Comments to IAEA on Idea of ZNPP Safety Zone, Kiev Didn't - Envoy
Russia has conveyed its comments to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the idea of ​​its director general Rafael Grossi to create a safety zone around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, but Ukraine has not yet responded to the agency's proposal, Russia's permanent representative to the IAEA, Mikhail Ulyanov, said on Tuesday.

"Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA, proposed an alternative concept — the creation of a zone of protection of nuclear and physical nuclear safety. Its essence, in a nutshell, is that you cannot shoot from the territory of the station and you cannot shoot at this station. Quite a reasonable idea, which we generally support. But, as always, the question is in the details," Ulyanov said.

The envoy said that in late September in New York, Grossi "handed over his sketches to the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine."

"We reacted. On October 11, the day our president received Grossi, there were consultations before this meeting. We conveyed our comments, proposals on the content of a possible agreement, but the Ukrainians, as far as I know, have not done this, although a lot of time has passed," Ulyanov said.

At the same time, he stressed that "arguments about the demilitarization (of a nuclear power plant) are completely inappropriate, because no one has ever militarized it," there are no Russian troops and heavy weapons, but "there is the Russian Guard, performing the necessary security functions."
12:43 GMT 25.10.2022
Preliminary Results of Visit By IAEA Experts to Ukraine May Be Within Few Weeks - Russian Envoy in Vienna
12:43 GMT 25.10.2022
IAEA Experts Will Head to Kiev in Coming Days After Russian Warnings About Ukraine Preparing 'Dirty Bomb' - Russian Envoy
Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will head to Kiev and Zheltie Vody in the coming days after Russia's warnings about Ukraine preparing a "dirty bomb," Russian Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said on Tuesday.

"Several [IAEA] inspectors will visit Kiev and Zheltie Vody in the coming days," Ulyanov said.

As a rule, the preliminary results of these visits will be within about a week, and the final ones will not appear soon, the diplomat added.
12:28 GMT 25.10.2022
Ukraine's External Financing Needs Could Reach $5Bln Per Month in 2023 – IMF
Ukraine’s external financing needs will total $3 billion per month in 2023 under the best-case scenario, but could rise up to $5 billion under the worst-case scenario, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Tuesday.

"We assess that in this recovery period through 2023 the best-case scenario would require $3 billion a month," Georgieva said at the Berlin-hosted International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernization of Ukraine.

However, the cost "could go easily to $4 billion a month" if Ukraine’s infrastructure, particularly its energy sector, requires additional support, she added.

"And in a worst-case scenario, if the bombing is even more dramatic, that could go up to $5 billion," Georgieva said.
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