⚡️ IAEA inspectors to visit two Ukrainian nuclear facilities.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said that the agency is preparing to inspect two Ukrainian nuclear facilities amid Russia’s claims that Ukraine is developing a “dirty bomb.”
“The IAEA inspected one of these locations one month ago and all our findings were consistent with Ukraine’s safeguards declarations,” Grossi said. “No undeclared nuclear activities or material were found there.”
According to Grossi, the inspection will be carried out at the request of Ukraine.
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⚡️ISW: Russian officials try realigning war in Ukraine with religious ideals accessible to Christians, Muslims.
The experts said that 🇷🇺 officials are attempting to rhetorically align war in Ukraine with religious concepts ostensibly accessible to both Christians and Muslims.
The experts note that it is likely done in order to cater to religious minority groups within the Russian Armed Forces.
Assistant Secretary to the Russian Security Council Alexei Pavlov amplified statements made by Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov on Oct. 25 that the goal of the war in Ukraine should be “complete de-satanization.”
⚡️ Bellingcat uncovers identities of individuals responsible for mass missile strikes against Ukraine.
The names of dozens of high-ranking Russian military engineers responsible for launching Russian Kalibr, R-500 and Kh-101 high-precision missiles at Ukraine have been published by the Bellingcat international investigative journalism group after a six-month investigation.
High-precision missiles have often been used against purely civilian targets in Ukraine, such as the strike on Vinnytsia in July, hundreds of kilometers from the front lines, which killed 28 people, including a four-year-old girl.
⚡️ISW: Russia's scare-mongering calls with NATO on 'dirty bombs' likely aim to slow or suspend Western military aid to Ukraine.
The Insitute for the Study of War said that 🇷🇺 Defense Minister's calls to certain NATO countries claiming that Ukraine is preparing to conduct a false-flag attack using a dirty bomb are likely intended to intimidate Western states into cutting or limiting support for 🇺🇦.
The experts note that the recipients of Sergei Shoigu’s calls are notable. He spoke with U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
⚡️FM Kuleba: 'Russia’s ‘dirty bomb’ misinformation campaign might be aimed at creating pretext for false-flag operation.'
Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken following Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's claims that Ukraine could escalate the situation with a dirty bomb — a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste.
Russia provided no evidence to substantiate its allegation. "Russian lies about Ukraine allegedly planning to use a ‘dirty bomb’ are as absurd as they are dangerous," Kuleba said in his earlier statement.
⚡️CNN: Satellite imagery shows Wagner Group anti-tank fortifications in Ukraine's east.
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show a nearly 2-kilometer anti-tank fortification of cement pyramids with a large trench in Russian-occupied Hirske in eastern Ukraine, CNN reports.
According to CNN, Russian media outlets have reported from the site, calling it the "Wagner Line" in reference to the Russian state-backed private military company Wagner Group.
A Russian tabloid also claimed recently the Wagner Group would continue to build the fortification, but additional satellite imagery analyzed by CNN did not show any further construction.
⚡️ISW: Russian forces likely setting conditions to remove military, occupation elements from the Dnipro River's west bank.
The Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment that a number of reports emerged on Oct. 20 indicating that 🇷🇺forces are moving military equipment, as well as some stolen fire trucks, civilian cars, and other miscellaneous household items across the Dnipro River.
"Russian forces have likely learned, at least in part, from their failures during the panicked Russian retreat from Kharkiv Oblast in the face of a previous Ukrainian counteroffensive," the ISW notes.