WAR IN UKRAINE: October 25, 2022
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: Day 244
Nato rejected Russia's "false" claim that Kyiv might use a "dirty bomb" - conventional explosives laced with radioactive material. “Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation. We remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine," Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg tweeted. He was echoing earlier condemnation of the claim by the foreign ministers of the US, UK and France, as well as by Kyiv. In a flurry of calls to his Western counterparts on Sunday Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had said Moscow was "concerned about possible provocations by Kyiv involving the use of a dirty bomb" - BBC
Energy expert Hennady Riabtsev told the Kyiv Independent that the full rehabilitation of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could only happen after the war. “This heating season will be the most difficult in the modern history of Ukraine,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UN nuclear watchdog is preparing to send inspectors in the coming days to two Ukrainian sites at Kyiv's request, it said on Monday, in an apparent reaction to Russian claims that Ukraine could deploy a so-called dirty bomb, which Ukraine denies. “The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is aware of statements made by the Russian Federation on Sunday about alleged activities at two nuclear locations in Ukraine," the IAEA said in a statement, adding that both were already subject to its inspections and one was inspected a month ago. "The IAEA is preparing to visit the locations in the coming days," it added - Jerusalem Post
A group of 30 U.S. Democratic House liberals is urging President Joe Biden to dramatically shift his strategy on the Ukraine war and pursue direct negotiations with Russia, the first time prominent members of his own party have pushed him to change his approach to Ukraine. In a letter led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the 30 Democrats call on Biden to pair the unprecedented economic and military support the United States is providing Ukraine with a “proactive diplomatic push, redoubling efforts to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire.” Add the lawmakers: “The alternative to diplomacy is protracted war, with both its attendant certainties and catastrophic and unknowable risks - Washington Post
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that former disgraced UK PM, Boris Johnson, plans to spend more time in Washington to guarantee continued U.S. support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian authorities are trying to dampen public fears over Russia's use of Iranian drones by claiming increasing success Monday in shooting them down. Ukraine's forces have shot down more than two-thirds of the approximately 330 Shahed drones that Russia has fired through Saturday, the head of Ukraine's intelligence service, Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview Monday. Budanov said Russia's military had ordered about 1,700 various types of drones, and is rolling out a second batch of about 300 Shaheds - AP
Russian state TV has given much airtime to pro-Kremlin propagandists, who often call for even harsher attacks on Ukraine. But one presenter was judged to have gone too far and has been suspended. Anton Krasovsky, who has his own show on RT, called for the burning and drowning of Ukrainian children, during an interview with a science fiction writer. There was outrage over that on social media. RT condemned his comments and suspended him - and he has apologised - BBC