“Just a few days before the Russian invasion, I warned the UN Security Council and outlined what we thought should happen. Today we have a pretty good idea of what Russia will do next. We believe that Moscow is setting the stage for the use of chemical weapons,” Blinken said.
He specified that Russia would arrange a provocation, accusing him of using chemical weapons to Ukraine, so that in this way justify the attack.
In addition, the Russian Federation is preparing to transfer mercenaries from other states to Ukraine (more on this Ukrainian intelligence warned) and will kidnap officials in the captured cities who will not agree to cooperate with her.
Blinken recalled that Russia had already begun to resort to similar steps in the south and recalled kidnapping of the mayor of Melitopol, Zaporozhye region, Ivan Fedorov.
“This is a terror tactic – to kidnap local officials and install their own. After the destruction of Ukrainian cities, Moscow can plant its own officials there and provide, as they say, economic support, so that people depend on Moscow for survival,” Blinken said.
He clarified that this is not a new tactic, in a similar way Russian troops acted during the war in Georgia.
“Invasion [президента РФ Владимира] Putin did not go according to plan. The Ukrainian people did not welcome the Russian military with open arms, they did not give up. On the contrary, he fights with extraordinary courage, defending his country, his homes, his loved ones. Blinken said.
War of Russia against Ukraine. The main thing (updated)
Today is the 23rd day of the war between Russia and Ukraine. During this time, the invaders managed to occupy several settlements in Kherson (including the regional center), Zaporozhye, Sumy, Kharkov and Kiev regions.
According to the Pentagon, Russian troops are still made no tangible progress on most of the territory of Ukraine, although they have a significant advantage in the number of personnel and equipment. IN The British Ministry of Defense also believe that Russian troops “largely stalled on all fronts” and continue to suffer heavy losses.
On March 6, Russian media began to spread propaganda messages about the alleged presence of a military biological program in Ukraine. In particular, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashenkov, said that allegedly in Ukrainian biological laboratories located not far from the Russian Federation, “they developed components of biological weapons.” On March 9, Konashenkov said that “Ukrainian nationalists” brought about 80 tons of ammonia to Zolochiv, Kharkov region. He announced “the preparation by Ukrainian nationalists of a provocation with the use of poisonous substances.” He did not provide any confirmation.
After statements by Russian officials, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki suggested that the Russian Federation may use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine or use it in a “false flag” operation (that is, arrange a provocation and blame Ukraine for this).
On March 10, the Security Service of Ukraine warned that Russian troops can prepare sabotage in ammonia warehouses in the Kharkiv region in order to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine. “The terrorist state produces fakes to justify its atrocities and blame Ukraine for them,” the department stressed. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine does not develop any weapons of mass destructionand accused Russia of possibly preparing a chemical attack on Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden said that Russia will pay a heavy priceif he uses chemical weapons in Ukraine.
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