The United States says “dismayed” Monday November 25 by the alleged use of gas banned in Ukraine by Moscow. Denmark, for its part, confirms discussions with China concerning a cargo ship off its coast. Here is an update on the night of Monday 25 to Tuesday 26 November.
Western countries and Russia crossed swords on Monday November 25 during a meeting on the control of chemical weapons. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced on November 18 that it had discovered CS riot gas in samples provided by Ukraine, coming from the area where it is fighting Russian forces it accuses of have recourse.
Read also: MAP. War in Ukraine: missile strikes, “threat” of mines, Kurakhové… Update
The Hague-based OPCW Chemical Weapons Convention bans the use of riot control agents, including CS gas“as means of war”. « I remain dismayed by the scale and frequency of Russia's use of riot control agents as a means of warfare against Ukrainian forces.”declared the American Undersecretary of State for Arms Control, Bonnie Jenkins, during the annual meeting of the OPCW.
“Russia already lied when it said it had no intention of invading Ukraine. She also lied when she said she did not use riot control agents in violation of the Convention.”she again told the delegates.
This is the first time that the use of anti-riot gas has been confirmed in areas where fighting is taking place in Ukraine, according to the OPCW, which however stressed that it is not seeking to identify the source.
Russia's representative, Kirill Lysogorsky, hit back, saying that “the West is trying to settle scores with countries it considers undesirable”.
Read also: They collected and loaded 70 m³ of medical equipment from Côtes-d'Armor to Ukraine
Immobilized Chinese cargo ship
Denmark has been monitoring the Yi-Peng 3, a Chinese ship anchored off its coast since the rupture of submarine cables in the Baltic Sea, for several days and says it is in contact with China on this subject. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in permanent dialogue with the countries most involved in handling this matter, including China”he wrote in a brief press release to AFP.
Sections of two telecommunications cables, both located in Swedish waters in the Baltic Sea, were cut on November 17 and 18. European officials described this act as sabotage, suspecting an act of “hybrid war”, the term used for actions carried out by Russia against states engaged alongside Ukraine. The Kremlin denied this.
The Yi Peng 3, a bulk carrier built in 2001, sailed into the area of the cables around the time they were severed, according to ship tracking sites. However, there is no indication that he was involved in the incidents.
Since Tuesday, the boat has been anchored in the narrow Kattegat Strait between Sweden and Denmark, under surveillance by the Swedish and Danish navies. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied any responsibility in this affair into which the Swedish and Finnish police have opened an investigation.
No details have been released about the ongoing investigation. « We cannot provide more information on the diplomatic dialogue”underlined Danish diplomacy.
Bunkers and shelters in case of attack
In a context of increased tensions with Russia, the Federal Office for Population Protection and Disaster Assistance (the equivalent of civil protection in France) announced on Monday that it was launching an inventory of bunkers and shelters where the German population could find refuge in the event of an attack. “All buildings – including private property – which could serve as shelters, such as cellars, garages and metro stations” are being inventoried, said a spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry during a regular press briefing in Berlin.
“A digital directory of all bunkers will be established so that people can quickly find them using their mobile phones”he underlined, adding that citizens are also encouraged to create shelters at their homes, by converting their cellar or garage.
Related News :