The Kremlin alleges that the United Kingdom "directed and coordinated" explosions on the Russia-Europe Nord Stream gas pipelines as the Ukraine conflict enters its 251st day.
The Nord Stream pipelines are operated by a consortium majority-owned by Russian gas firm Gazprom. (AA Archive)
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
The Kremlin has accused the United Kingdom of "directing and coordinating" explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
"Our intelligence services have data indicating that British military specialists were directing and coordinating the attack," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "There is evidence that Britain is involved in sabotage, in a terrorist attack on vital energy infrastructure, not just Russian, but international."
Ukraine seeks Russia's expulsion from G20, says Putin's hands 'stained in blood'
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry spokesperson has said Russia should be expelled from the Group of 20 major economies and President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to a G20 summit in Bali next month must be revoked.
"Putin publicly acknowledged ordering missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure," spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Twitter.
"With his hands stained in blood, he must not be allowed to sit at the table with world leaders. Putin’s invitation to Bali summit must be revoked, and Russia expelled from G20."
Russia extends evacuation zone in Kherson region
Russian-backed officials in Ukraine's Kherson region have said they will start evacuating citizens from the eastern bank of the Dnipro river, repeating claims rejected by Kiev that Ukraine could be preparing to attack the Kakhovka dam and flood the region.
In a post on Telegram, Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-backed head of the region, which is partially occupied by Russian forces, said he was extending an evacuation area in the region and - for the first time - asked civilians on the Dnipro river's eastern bank to leave their homes.
The new area will cover an additional 15 kilometre (nine mile) zone around the Dnipro river, which splits the Kherson region, to include another seven settlements, Saldo said.
Press statement from Turkish & Ukrainian officials on Istanbul grain deal:
— TRT World (@trtworld) November 1, 2022
-It's of great importance to continue grain deal
-Black Sea corridor is much faster than roads
-Grain deal, which is a solution to global crisis, must be separated from the conflict pic.twitter.com/gu6UBWSRrT
Russia fines Wikimedia Foundation over Ukraine war entries
A Russian court has fined Wikipedia owner Wikimedia Foundation 2 million rubles ($32,600) over articles relating to the Ukraine war, the head of the foundation in Russia has told Reuters.
Stanislav Kozlovsky said the penalty was imposed for not deleting entries that Russia has demanded be removed. He said the foundation would appeal.
The two articles, in Russian, were titled "Non-violent resistance of Ukraine's civilian population in the course of Russia's invasion" and "Evaluations of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine". Russia describes its war in Ukraine as a "special military operation".Three more ships leave Ukrainian ports under deal despite Russian suspension
Three outbound vessels left Ukrainian ports by midday on Tuesday under the Black Sea grain export deal, the United Nations-led coordination centre said, the second day of sailings after Russia suspended participation in the initiative.
The statement said the ships' movement was agreed by the Ukrainian, Turkish and UN delegations at the Istanbul-based centre and the Russian delegation had been informed.
It said the UN coordinator for the grain initiative, Amir Abdulla, continued discussions with all three member state par ties in an effort to resume full participation at the centre that oversees safe passage of vessels.
EU presidency says sanctions may next target Belarus
The Czech prime minister, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, has said the bloc may look at further sanctions on Belarus over its role in the war in Ukraine. Minsk allows Russian troops to be stationed on Belarusian territory and stage attacks on Ukraine from there, although it insists it does not want to join the war directly.
"We are now looking at...the role of Belarus and the potential need to target it," Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told reporters after returning from Kiev where members of his cabinet joined him in talks with Ukrainian counterparts.
"Certain sanctions against Belarus are already in place, but we can't have Belarus joining Russia's policy or Russia avoiding the impact of sanctions through countries such as Belarus," he added.
Water, power supplies restored in Kiev after missile strikes: Mayor
Water and electricity supplies have been restored in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, a day after being knocked out by Russian missile strikes, the city's mayor has said.
Vitali Klitschko said on social media there would still be planned power cuts in the city "because of the considerable deficit in the power system after the barbaric attacks of the aggressor".
The Ukrainian military said Russia had launched 55 cruise missiles and dozens of other munitions across the country on Monday. Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovich on Tuesday called the bombardment "one of the most massive shellings of our territory by the army of the Russian Federation".
IAEA begins studying 'dirty bomb' claims in Ukraine
The UN's nuclear watchdog has said it had begun inspections in Ukraine as part of "independent verification" of Russian allegations Kiev is producing so-called dirty bombs.
"Director General Grossi said IAEA inspectors had begun – and would soon complete – verification activities at (the) two locations in Ukraine," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement, adding that the watchdog's chief Rafael Grossi would "later this week provide his initial conclusions" about the inspections.
Grain deal not canceled but suspended — Putin
Russia
is not ending its participation in a deal to export much-needed
Ukrainian grain through Black Sea ports but rather is suspending it,
President Vladimir Putin said.
"We are not saying that we are ceasing our participation in this operation. No, we are saying that we are suspending it," Putin told a televised news conference.
Putin said the Ukrainian drones had traveled through the same corridors the grain ships used. "And thus they created a threat both to our ships, which must ensure the safety of grain exports, and to the civilian ships that are engaged in this," he said.
Social media is bold.
Social media is young.
Social media raises questions.
Social media is not satisfied with an answer.
Social media looks at the big picture.
Social media is interested in every detail.
social media is curious.
Social media is free.
Social media is irreplaceable.
But never irrelevant.
Social media is you.
(With input from news agency language)
If you like this story, share it with a friend!
0 Comments