>Oct 23 (Reuters) - Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday for the second time in three days and held a flurry of calls with three other counterparts from NATO countries.

>"They discussed the situation in Ukraine which is rapidly deteriorating," the Russian defence ministry said of Shoigu's call with French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu. "It is trending towards further uncontrolled escalation."

>Shoigu's ministry said he had told his French, Turkish and British counterparts of Moscow's concern that Ukraine could detonate a "dirty bomb"

>Previous Russian assertions that Ukraine might resort to using banned weapons such as biological arms have stirred concerns in the West that Moscow might be preparing to stage "false flag" attacks and blame them on Kyiv.
https://www.reuters.com/world/russias-shoigu-holds-second-call-with-us-defense-secretary-three-days-2022-10-23

>Russia claims Ukraine in 'final stage' of creating 'dirty bomb'
https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1584508408279240706

>Russia's Defense Ministry continues to push hard on the alleged "dirty-bomb threat" in Ukraine, puts its forces on alert for operating in radioactive contamination conditions.
https://twitter.com/KevinRothrock/status/1584508724240355328

>Russia now just flooding informational space with fakes what Ukraine intends to do:
>- to blow up Kakhovska dam
>- Both Kakhovska and Dnipro dam
>- Dirty nuclear bomb at Kherson
>- Blow up all 6 units of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
>- dirty bomb+same script as Khan Shaykhun(staged)
https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1584507965133840384

>Spoke with 🇺🇸 @SecDef & 🇬🇧 @BWallaceMP about #Russia’s false claim that #Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. #NATO Allies reject this allegation. Russia must not use it as a pretext for escalation.
https://twitter.com/jensstoltenberg/status/1584587743728140289

>One senior U.S. official said there were new, troubling developments involving Russia’s nuclear arsenal. The official asked for anonymity and declined to provide any details, given the sensitivity of the issue.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/24/us/politics/russia-dirty-bomb-west-ukraine.html

>Russia has notified the U.S. that its annual nuclear exercise has begun and that it will include launches of nuclear capable missiles starting Wednesday, according to two U.S. officials.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-nuclear-exercise-annual-nuclear-capable-missiles-launch-american-officials-say

>Energoatom, the Ukrainian state enterprise that operates the country’s four nuclear power plants, said Russian forces have carried out secret construction work over the last week at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

>Russian officers controlling the area won’t give access to Ukrainian staff running the plant or monitors from the U.N.’s atomic energy watchdog that would allow them to see what the Russians are doing, Energoatom said Tuesday in a statement.

>Energoatom said it “assumes” the Russians “are preparing a terrorist act using nuclear materials and radioactive waste stored at” the plant.

>The U.N. Security Council held closed-door consultations Tuesday about the dirty-bomb allegations at Russia’s request.

>Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia sent a five-page letter to council members before the meeting claiming that according to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine’s Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences in Kyiv and Vostochniy Mining and Processing Plant “have received direct orders from (President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy’s regime to develop such a dirty bomb” and “the works are at their concluding stage.”

>Nebenzia said the ministry also received word that this work “may be carried out with the support of the Western countries.” And he warned that the authorities in Kyiv and their Western backers “will bear full responsibility for all the consequences” of using a “dirty bomb,” which Russia will regard as “an act of nuclear terrorism.”

>In a related matter, Russia asked the Security Council to establish a commission to investigate its claims that the United States and Ukraine are violating the convention prohibiting the use of biological weapons at laboratories in Ukraine.

>Russia has called a Security Council meeting Thursday on Ukraine’s biological laboratories and its allegations.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-kyiv-sergei-shoigu-climate-and-environment-government-politics-6ea801e22edee2d25c1e24d613f18e4a

https://www.heartland.org/news-opinion/news/the-left-experts-at-accusing-others-of-that-which-they-do

>“Any nuclear attack against Ukraine will create an answer, not a nuclear answer but such a powerful answer from the military side that the Russian Army will be annihilated.”
https://www.kyivpost.com/russias-war/russian-army-will-be-annihilated-if-putin-nukes-ukraine-borrell.html

>If Putin Uses Nukes in Ukraine, the U.S. Must Respond with Military Force
>Opinion by LEON E. PANETTA, former defense secretary and CIA director
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/10/12/military-force-putin-nuclear-threats-00061201

>Russian missiles bombard cities across Ukraine, hitting power and water infrastructure
https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/31/europe/russian-missile-strikes-ukraine-intl/index.html

>Russian missile strikes leave 80 percent of Kyiv without water, says mayor
https://www.politico.eu/article/80-percent-kyiv-resident-without-water-supply-russia-missile-strikes-vitali-klitschko

>Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, has announced that Ukraine's liberation of its territories is a "direct reason" for Russia to use nuclear weapons.

>According to Medvedev, Western countries are pushing the world towards a global war.
https://news.yahoo.com/medvedev-threatens-ukraine-nuclear-weapons-135500843.html

>"We are aware of #Kyiv's attempts to create a "dirty" nuclear bomb and its readiness to deploy #NATO nuclear weapons on its territory, stated #Shoigu.
https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1587739452541124608

>World on 'brink of nuclear war', claims Russia
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/11/02/ukraine-russia-war-news-latest-kyiv-hypersonic-missiles-belarus

>‘Destroy Russia Together’: Jim Inhofe Calls for Even More Aid to Ukraine
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/11/01/destroy-russia-together-jim-inhofe-calls-for-even-more-aid-to-ukraine

>"Yesterday ... the Zaporizhzhia NPP's (nuclear power plant's) last two high-voltage lines connecting it to Ukrainian power system were damaged. At 11:04 p.m., the station went into full blackout mode. All 20 diesel generators were switched on,"

>The facility in southern Ukraine, Europe's largest, has 15 days' worth of fuel to run the generators, Energoatom said.

>Moscow wants to connect Ukrainian nuclear plant to Russian grid - Energoatom
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-disconnected-grid-2022-11-03
https://archive.is/dmOcc

>Why Ukraine is now hellbent on retaking Crimea - despite Vladimir Putin's nuclear threats: IAN BIRRELL, who has had remarkable access to Kyiv's military chiefs, explains how they've set sights on a VERY risky victory - and deporting 800,000 Russians
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11383711/IAN-BIRRELL-explains-Ukraine-hellbent-retaking-Crimea-despite-Putins-threats.html

>Russia has accused Britain of being drawn “too deep” into the conflict in Ukraine, warning that it risks a “dangerous” escalation of the crisis.

>Andrey Kelin, the Russian ambassador to the UK, claimed British “specialists” had been involved in an audacious drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea fleet at the weekend in which three warships were reportedly damaged, including the flagship HMS Makarov.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-war-britain-too-deep-ukraine-b2217316.html

>Ukraine has developed drones that are capable of finding targets autonomously, a Ukrainian military leader has claimed, raising the prospect that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war could see the first confirmed use of “killer robots” in armed conflict.

>“The technology already exists and this phenomenon cannot be stopped,”
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2344966-will-ukraine-deploy-lethal-autonomous-drones-against-russia

>Putin 'makes chilling Hiroshima nuclear threat' during call with Macron

>The tyrant alarmed Western leaders after saying the 1945 atom bomb was proof "you don't have to launch nuclear strike on a major city to win a war", diplomatic sources said.
https://amp.lbc.co.uk/news/putin-hiroshima-nuclear-threat-macron/

>In the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, local authorities are preparing for the possibility of a total power blackout, and the evacuation of three million residents.

>Total blackout in Kherson, entire city without power - report
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-721582

>Royal Navy nuclear-armed submarine forced to abort mission after catching fire
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/07/royal-navy-nuclear-armed-submarine-forced-abort-mission-catching
https://archive.is/dxx5K

>At least two dead after Russian missiles land in NATO state Poland on Ukraine border

>The Prime Minister of Poland has called an emergency meeting following the explosion.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1697080/russia-poland-missle-dead-NATO-state-Ukraine-war-pictures-world-war-3

>⚡️European Parliament to vote on a resolution marking Russia as state sponsor of terrorism.
https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1593351026517630977

>...the resolution will include a line recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and a state that uses terror as a weapon.
>The press office of the European Parliament said the resolution will be put to a vote on Nov. 23. The document would pave the way for the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and his regime to face an international tribunal for their crimes, the message added.
https://finance.yahoo.com/finance/news/russia-branded-state-sponsor-terrorism-234400329.html

from August:
>State sponsor of terrorism label would mark 'point of no return,' Russia says
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/13/ukraine-russia-live-updates/10317309002

>Massive explosion hits Russian Gazprom gas pipeline amid suspicions of sabotage linked to Putin's war on Ukraine
>The fireball was visible for miles in every direction today after hitting about 14 miles east of St Petersburg
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11447127/Explosion-hits-Russian-gas-pipeline-amid-suspicions-sabotage-linked-Putins-war-Ukraine.html

>The NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Madrid called for the creation of a special international tribunal on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and recognized Russia as a terrorist state, according to a statement from the head of Ukraine’s permanent delegation to the NATO assembly.

>“All 30 NATO countries supported the proposals of our delegation,” Yehor Chernev said in the statement.

>“Such a tribunal will make it possible to convict not only the direct perpetrators of war crimes, but also the senior leadership of the Russian Federation.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/21/russia-ukraine-live-updates.html

>"The resolution names Russia the most direct threat to Euro-Atlantic security," said Tomas Valasek, head of the Slovak delegation to the NATO PA. "It states clearly that the state of Russia, under its current regime, is a terrorist one," he added. He added that Russia violated its agreements with the alliance, thus, the provision of limiting the forward deployment of troops is "null and void."

>The document also includes Ukrainian requests to increase military assistance, develop specific steps regarding Ukraine’s accession to NATO, and create a mechanism for collecting reparations from Russia for damages caused by its aggression, according to the Ukrainian diplomat.
https://kyivindependent.com/news-feed/nato-parliamentary-assembly-recognizes-russia-as-terrorist-state-calls-for-special-tribunal-creation

>European Parliament votes to declare Russia a 'state sponsor of terrorism'

>"The deliberate attacks and atrocities carried out by the Russian Federation against the civilian population of Ukraine, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and other serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law amount to acts of terror against the Ukrainian population and constitute war crimes"

>"Russia poses a risk to the safety and security of the whole European continent and the rules-based international order," the resolution reads.

>the European Parliament demands a "comprehensive international isolation" of Russia, a further reduction of diplomatic relations and a new round of EU sanctions.

>"Contacts with its official representatives at all levels (should) be kept to the absolute minimum necessary," lawmakers said.

>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the text and said Russia must be "held accountable in order to end its long-standing policy of terrorism in Ukraine and across the globe."
https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/11/23/ukraine-war-european-parliament-declares-russia-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism

>According to Kan-11, the Israeli Foreign Ministry protested against Russia’s purchase of Iranian drones. The Israeli ambassador to Moscow gave the note of protest to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. As well, Kan-11 reported that the Head of the Israeli National Security Headquarters Eyal Hulata warned Russia against purchasing Iranian ballistic missiles at a forum in Bahrein and said if this happens, Israel will begin delivering precision-guided missiles to Ukraine.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/11/22/israel-may-supply-high-precision-ballistic-missiles-to-ukraine-if-russia-gets-iranian-ones-media