US Senate proposes that radioactive contamination of NATO territory caused by Russia be considered as attack on Alliance.

The US Senate has introduced a resolution which proposes that the actions of Russia, Belarus "or proxy of Russia" be considered as an attack on NATO, if their actions lead to radioactive contamination of the allies' territory.

Source: resolution introduced by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democrat Richard Blumenthal.

Details: They note that they were prompted to introduce the resolution by Russia's announced placement of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Senators noted that this is the first precedent since the collapse of the USSR that Russia has moved its nuclear weapons beyond its own borders, and it is a serious threat to global security amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

It is also clear from the text that the second reason is the unpredictable situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is under the control of the Russian occupying forces.

Graham and Blumenthal proposed that any use of tactical nuclear weapons by the Russian Federation, Belarus "or proxy of Russia", or the nuclear facility destruction, which will lead to the entry of radioactive elements into the territory of NATO member countries and cause serious damage, should be considered an attack on Alliance and the reason for the use of Article 5.

"The threat of a use of a nuclear device by Russia is real. And the best way to deter it is to give them clarity, the Russians, as to what happens if they do that. And our message is to those around Putin. That if you do this, if you follow his orders � if he ever gives this, you can expect a massive response from NATO. And you will be at war with NATO," Graham said.

"This resolution [...] is meant to send a message to Vladimir Putin and even more directly to his military, they will be destroyed, they will be eviscerated if they use tactical nuclear weapons, or if they destroy a nuclear plant in a way that threatens surrounding NATO nations. [...] His (Putin's) military risks total obliteration by NATO forces, if they are so reckless and irrational as to resort to tactical nuclear weapons," Senator Blumenthal said.

The senators suggested that the Biden administration conduct appropriate consultations with the leaders of other allied countries and European partners and consider actions to minimize the threat to the civilian population and prepare a diplomatic and military response, "commensurate with the situation".

Biden believes threat of nuclear strike by Russia is real. What world, Ukraine should do

https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3726822-biden-believes-threat-of-nuclear-strike-by-russia-is-real-what-world-ukraine-should-do.html

The article has a lot of good analytics.

Perhaps the Russians are playing a false flag operation. If the organized crime group Wagner Group, for example, gains access to nuclear weapons, Russia will be able to unofficially fire these weapons at any country. Why is the US Central Intelligence Agency silent?

Russia might blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The West is yet to believe, but Ukraine has a plan.

Ukraine warns that Russia has prepared for a terrorist attack at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and offers five steps to prevent a catastrophe
"Russia is in a state of affect, especially after the failed Prigozhin mutiny. And this will only get worse," Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the presidential office, tells LIGA.net.

"Russia understands that it has no tools left but terrorist ones. And we should not wait until it acts."

Andrius Kubilius, an MEP and Lithuania�s former prime minister, does not doubt that only the deployment of international forces to the Zaporizhzhia plant can change the situation.

"Nothing else will stop the Kremlin,"

Why has Ukraine intensified its rhetoric regarding the Zaporizhzhia NPP, how the West has (not) reacted so far, and what is the five-point plan for preventing a catastrophe that Kyiv has proposed?

�Tensions are rising�
Since the first days of the full-scale war, Russia has been using the Zaporizhzhia NPP as a military base.

After the Russians blew up the Nova Kakhovka dam, the rhetoric regarding the plant escalated � at first because of the possible shallowing of its cooling pond, and later, when Ukraine found out the plant had been mined.

Apart from that, there are several disturbing signs urging Kyiv to be more proactive, Mykhailo Podoliak, an adviser to the chief of the presidential office, explains.

First, it is the lack of a proper legal response to Russia�s blowing up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant.

"There were no consequences for Russia: no additional sanctions, no UN meetings... We need legal action against Russia, up to and including its recognition as a terrorist state," Mr Podoliak tells LIGA.net. "This would dramatically reduce their manoeuvre."

The blowing up of the Kakhovka dam was akin to the use of weapons of mass destruction, Andrius Kubilius, an MEP and Lithuania�s former prime minister, believes. International law, he adds, provides for how to respond to situations like this, but nothing has been done.

"I see a very big mistake by the West," Mr Kubilius tells LIGA.net. "If the Kremlin perceives the West�s reaction as weakness, it could push it to take even more dangerous steps."
That Russia has not been recognised as a state sponsor of terrorism is also worriying to Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraine�s former foreign minister. However, he says that such a status would instantly cut off any and all channels of communication with Russia.

"It is important for the US and Europeans to talk to Russia, for instance about strategic arms control," Mr Klimkin explains to LIGA.net.

Another disturbing sign is constant missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, Mr Podoliak explains, which shows that Russia has decided it will use terrorist tools until the end of the war.

And, finally, the abortive mutiny staged by the Wagner Group last week has exposed the fragility of the Russian government.

It is unclear who can make decisions about nuclear arsenals and the blowing up of large facilities in Ukraine � or even in Russia itself, Mr Podoliak says.

"After this Prigozhin mutiny, it is quite obvious that Russia is becoming absolutely unpredictable, a country that can go for absolute cruelty, terrorist attacks, explosions at nuclear power plants, or something else," Mr Kubilius adds.

Last week, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukriaine�s military intelligence, GUR, warned of additional mining of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, including the cooler. He later added that Russia had completed preparations for a terrorist attack, having placed explosives near four of the six power units.

"The situation had never been so serious," Mr Budanov said.

Ukrainian intelligence updated the parliamentary national security committee on the situation at ZNPP, its secretary Roman Kostenko says.

"As for the predictions of a possible explosion, it is a catastrophe... The consequences could be serious � not only for Ukraine but also for European countries," he told LIGA.net.

Rafael Grossi, the chief of the UN�s atomic energy agency, has confirmed that there are mines at the plant, but said he "did not see" them near the cooling pond. Ukraine�s interior ministry, meanwhile, has already deployed command centres in case of an accident.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking to convey the seriousness of the situation to his partners.

He has spoken to G7 ambassadors, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, and Polish and Lithuanian leaders Andrzej Duda and Gitanas Nausėda, but admitted that so far the partners have not paid enough attention.

Five steps to make Russia regret
Non-public contacts and statements by MPs are not enough, says Mr Merezhko.

"We need preventive measures, including statements by the �nuclear club� states, an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, tighter sanctions and isolation of Russia, and the IAEA�s response," he adds.

Kyiv is trying to convey to its partners that it is necessary to prevent the catastrophe rather than respond to it, and has offered a five-point plan.

1. Sanctions against Rosatom

Russia�s state nuclear energy agency is now not excluded from the global market, Mr Podoliak explains, meaning it can still build nuclear power plants, sell raw materials, purchase technologies, and generate the lion�s share of Russia�s foreign revenues.

"It would be great if we could get a concrete promise from our partners right now that Rosatom will be immediately sanctioned if there is activity at the ZNPP," he explains.
2. Nuclear safety summit

The summit should see the countries, especially the nuclear ones, declare their position on the use of both tactical nuclear weapons and the explosion at the ZNPP for military benefit.

"A summit with a public reaction and a resolution would be good," the Ukrainian official adds.

3. UN hearing

Although Russia is using the UN Security Council as a propaganda platform, Mr Podoliak believes it would be advisable to hold a UN hearing on the issue to underscore the inadmissibility of using nuclear technology in war and its legal consequences.

4. Informal contacts with nuclear countries, including China and India

"We need to strengthen communication with China and India to put additional pressure on the Kremlin to avoid nuclear provocations," Ms von Cramon adds.

"Although China and India have not condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and are partly profiting from the war, they clearly understand that any nuclear provocation will exponentially reduce global security."

Mr Kostenko says it is necessary to work with other states, such as Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries which may also be affected by a potential catastrophe.

"Perhaps Russia will somehow listen to them as well, for fear of losing at least some partners," the MP explains.

5. IAEA�s wider involvement

Expanding the number and level of the IAEA mission at the Zaporizhzhia NPP may work � at least partially, Mr Klimkin believes.

"To create a security zone and withdraw Russian troops from the ZNPP and leave operational control over the site and the area around it to the IAEA," he adds.

The Ukrainian side has already proposed a similar plan to the IAEA chief, Mr Podolyak says, involving the withdrawal of Russian troops and equipment and the establishment of a 30-kilometre demilitarised zone around the station.

"But there is little hope for the IAEA, this organisation is in a deplorable state."

More radical steps
Only the protection of the ZNPP by international troops can truly guarantee nuclear safety, Mr Kubilius is convinced, adding the Kremlin will not be stopped by anything else.

Mike Pence
@Mike_Pence
"While I strongly support American involvement in Ukraine, I heard again today frustration about how slow the Biden Administration has been in providing that military support. We are the most powerful Nation on Earth, we have the most powerful military on Earth, and we ought to be providing them with what they need to win."

https://twitter.com/i/status/1674598630748037121

You do realize you are talking to yourself here, right? 22 posts in a row from just you, with me now interrupting your winning streak.
Well as long as you are having fun

You do realize you are talking to yourself here, right?

Wrong, as usual. He is clearly talking to you. That makes at least 3, counting myself.

Ukrodreams, writing for the sake of writing. Keep on if you have nothing else to do. Reality is very different from your dreams.

Ukrodreams, writing for the sake of writing. Keep on if you have nothing else to do. Reality is very different from your dreams.

See how wrong you are, SVH? He is talking to at least 4 of us! 
In other words, today, more than half of his confirmed audience is made of putin apologists.
And that's very good! 👍

Quote from: DroneNamibia on June 30, 2023, 12:58

Ukrodreams, writing for the sake of writing. Keep on if you have nothing else to do. Reality is very different from your dreams.

See how wrong you are, SVH? He is talking to at least 4 of us! 
In other words, today, more than half of his confirmed audience is made of putin apologists.
And that's very good! 👍

You are right. Good to see he still has an audience. I was almost feeling sorry for him

Quote from: Zero Talent on June 30, 2023, 14:41

Quote from: DroneNamibia on June 30, 2023, 12:58

Ukrodreams, writing for the sake of writing. Keep on if you have nothing else to do. Reality is very different from your dreams.

See how wrong you are, SVH? He is talking to at least 4 of us! 
In other words, today, more than half of his confirmed audience is made of putin apologists.
And that's very good! 👍

You are right. Good to see he still has an audience. I was almost feeling sorry for him

Don't worry about that.

A decent human being should rather empathize with the unimaginable pain his country and fellow citizens are going through, because of the immoral, illegal, and unprovoked russian invasion.

You should feel sorry for those:

- 492 murdered children
- 1,031 wounded children
- 9,083 murdered civilians (and that's excluding Mariupol, where we will most likely discover another genocide once it will be freed, after seeing hectares of mass graves from the Maxar satellites)
- 6.3 million refugees (without taking into consideration the forced deportation from the illegally annexed territories)
- 158,000 destroyed or damaged homes
- 1,544 hospitals, clinics, and other civilian medical facilities destroyed or damaged
- 3,328 schools, high schools, and universities destroyed or damaged
- 411 billion dollars in losses because of destroyed industrial capacities (like Azovstal or Azom) and that was before the destruction of the Nova Khakova dam.
- 55.7 billion dollars required to restore the environmental damages.

in brief, you should feel sorry for the genocide against the Ukrainian people, instead of stocker2014's perceived lack of audience. 

(and cut him some slack, when the emotional war news he is sharing are not always 100% accurate)

putin is a war criminal.

Slava Ukraini!