Millions of homes plunged into darkness. In his daily address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday 3 November that“about 4.5 million consumers have been temporarily disconnected” of the electricity network at the end of the day. Cuts directly attributed to Russian army strikes on energy installations. For the Ukrainian president, the Russian soldiers “cannot defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, that’s why they are trying to break our people” by surrendering to “energy terror”, he accused. Franceinfo retraces the main developments on the front of the war in Ukraine.
No findings in investigation into ‘dirty bomb’ charges
The International Atomic Energy Agency has stated that at this stage it has not detected “no signs of undeclared nuclear activity” in three places inspected at the request of Kyiv. “In recent days, the inspectors have been able to carry out the planned activities and have been able to access the sites without hindrance”details the press release of theIAEA. Ukraine is accused by Moscow of having erased evidence of preparation of a “dirty bomb” targeting Russia.
Gradual resumption of grain exports to the Black Sea
Seven cargo ships loaded with grain left Ukrainian ports on Thursday, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced. The boats will use the secure humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea which has already allowed the export of 9.7 million tonnes of cereals from Ukraine despite the conflict, thanks to the international agreement signed in July under the aegis of Turkey and the UN. According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense quoted by the state agency Anadolu, 426 boats have already followed this secure route since August 1.
Tension shows between Moscow and London
Moscow claims that London participated in recent attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea, charges denied by the British. When summoned by the British ambassador in Moscow, the Russian authorities indicated that “Such hostile actions by the UK risk leading to an escalation of the situation which could have unforeseeable consequences”Russian diplomacy said in a statement.
Ukraine condemns “forced displacements” in the occupied territories
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned Thursday about operations to move the population from the Kherson region, more particularly from Skadovsk and Kakhovka, to the Crimea or to Russia. “Similar movements are also being carried out by Russia in the regions of Zaporizhia, Lugansk and Donetsk, as well as in Crimea”condemns the ministry, which accuses the Russian troops of “looting (…) of industrial, cultural, educational and medical establishments, as well as private homes and apartments”.
G7 agrees on new humanitarian aid
The industrialized countries of the G7, meeting in Münster (Germany) on Thursday 3 November, assured that they would not allow “the brutality of this war leads to the mass death of old people and children, young people or families in the winter months to come”said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The G7 will deliver water pumps, heaters, beds and blankets.
Annalena Baerbock, whose country holds the presidency of the G7 until the end of the year, denounced the “treacherous methods” of Russia in its way of waging the war by trying “to starve, thirst or freeze people by attacking civilian infrastructure”.
No “nuclear imminence” in the conflict
This is what Lova Rinel told franceinfoassociate researcher at the Foundation for Strategic Research and specialist in particular in questions relating to nuclear deterrence, on an article published in October by the New York Times. If the United States says to “increasingly concerned”, Lova Rinel argues that “The United States Secretary of Defense says there is no indication today of increased Russian nuclear activity.” According to the researcher, several signals remain to be monitored, such as a possible increase in Russian submarine activity, directly linked to the country’s nuclear deterrent.