Russian and Belarusian security services plot a terror attack in Belarus near the Polish border in order to blame it on Ukraine. NATO allies Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria are discussing the creation of a joint mine-sweeping force to clear the Black Sea route. President Zelenskyi said he had “good news” on artillery and air defense supplies after talks with his Romanian counterpart in Bucharest.
Russian, Belarusian security services plot terror attack in Belarus near Polish border in order to blame it on Ukraine
Russian and Belarusian security services have developed a plan to drop explosives on an oil depot in Belarus and blame it on Ukraine, the National Resistance Center of Ukraine said Tuesday.
“Russia’s FSB and Belarus’ KGB security services have agreed to carry out a false-flag operation against a facility in Belarus and then blame it on Ukraine,” the National Resistance Center said.
“So far, a facility that is being considered a target for a terrorist attack is the oil depot Brestoblnefteproduct near Pryluky in the Brest region, two kilometers from the Belarus-Poland border. They plan to drop explosives from a drone,” the message continues.
In August, Wagner mercenaries conducted aerial reconnaissance to support the plan, the National Resistance Center said, quoting Belarus’ underground resistance.
NATO allies Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria to form mine-sweeping force to clear Black Sea route
Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria are discussing the creation of a joint force to clear any mines that drift into their waters from Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to three officials familiar with the talks cited by Bloomberg.
The three NATO members are still working out the details but may set up the unit as early as next month, according to two of the officials, who all asked not to be identified because the talks were private.
While not a NATO operation as such, the joint force to clear sea mines would be the first major combined effort among allies in the Black Sea since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine.
The new force is intended to be entirely peaceful and won’t bring any new NATO vessels to the sea, two of the officials said.
Turkey’s government declined to comment. The defense ministries of Romania and Bulgaria didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
One of the goals of the mission is to show the three countries are capable of addressing the problem themselves, one official said.
Zelenskyi says he has “good news” on artillery, air defense supplies after talks with Romanian President
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said he had “good news” on artillery and air defense supplies after talks with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest. He also thanked Romania for the aid that had been provided and upcoming aid.
“There will be good news on artillery and air defense supplies. I am very much grateful for that. I am sure in Romania, it is well-known what a terrible threat Russian missiles and attack drones pose,” Zelenskyi told a joint news conference with Romanian President Iohannis.
Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Danube have also become a problem for Romanian towns at the border, he added.
When asked about the military assistance he had requested from Romania, Zelenskyi said he will refrain from details so that Russia is not in the know.
Ukrainian exports of agricultural products along the “solidarity corridors”, including via ports on the Danube, directly support global food security and social stability, Zelenskyi said.
“Every Russian missile or Shahed drone that attacks Ukrainian ports, also attacks our joint contribution to global security. We must do everything possible to prevent Russia from turning the Black Sea and Danube region into a dead area not suitable for navigation,” the Ukrainian President said.
Air defenses are key to achieving that, he added. “We are working with allies in order to bolster our air defenses throughout the country and particularly in Odesa region. We have discussed with President [Iohannis] our possible joint measures to protect not just the ports, but the entire region of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania, and protect our people,” Zelenskyi said.
Ukraine and Romania signed a declaration of cooperation in a number of key areas, he said.
On October 10, President Zelenskyi met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest on his first official visit to the country since Russia’s invasion.
Russian crimes against cultural heritage in occupied territories. Ukraine in Flames #518
In this episode of Ukraine in flames, the speakers discuss their efforts to document and protect cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Ukraine. They highlight the importance of this work for justice, reparations, assessing damages, and challenging colonial narratives. The speakers also mention the challenges they face in tracking museum objects in the occupied regions. Despite obstacles, they express determination to restore information on cultural objects and safeguard Ukraine’s cultural heritage for the future. Take a watch of UIF #518 to learn more!
Guests:
- Evelina Kravchenko, PhD in History, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
- Elmira Ablyalimova-Chiygoz, Project Manager, Crimean Institute for Strategic Studies
- Denys Yashnyi, Head of the monitoring group, Crimean Institute for Strategic Studies
