The Security Council on Wednesday (November 2, 2022) rejected a Russian-draft resolution calling for an investigation into its allegations of Washington’s involvement in alleged biological weapons development in Ukraine.
Russia formally requested a UN probe into these allegations last week, which it has regularly pushed since it began its offensive in Ukraine.
The resolution she put to the vote on Wednesday received two yes votes (Russia and China), three no votes (France, the United States and the United Kingdom, who have veto power) and the 10 non-permanent members of the council all abstained.
The text provided for the “Establish a commission of all members of the Security Council to investigate allegations against the United States and Ukraine” regarding their obligations under the Convention Prohibiting the Development, Production and Use of Biological Weapons.
Deputy Ambassador of Russia Dmitry Polyanskiy regretted the outcome of the vote and condemned the attitude of Western countries “have shown that the rules don’t apply to them”.
“It’s a common colonial mentality, we’re used to it, we’re not even surprised”he added, promising to return to the issue at the Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference in Geneva from November 28 to December 16.
“The United States voted against this resolution because it is based on misinformation, dishonesty, bad faith and a total lack of respect.” for the Security Council, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield replied.
This resolution is “a milestone in Russia’s deceit and lies” and “no one is implicated except China”She added.
The United States and Ukraine flatly denied Russia’s allegations last week, with the Americans calling them a “pure invention”.
The United Nations Deputy High Representative for disarmament issues, Adedeji Ebo, told him that the UN is not “Out of Date” of a biological weapons program in Ukraine and had no mandate or “technical skills” to investigate.
Delivery of Iranian drones
Iran has been openly accused by the West of selling its drones or even missiles to Russia, allegations that are partly proven and partly speculative, but relate to a strategy that in many ways serves Tehran’s interests.
The Islamic Republic, already heavily sanctioned by the international community for its nuclear program and heavily criticized for suppressing demonstrations, denies supporting Moscow.
However, the bilateral rapprochement seems concrete.
Kyiv last week claimed around 400 Iranian drones had already been used against civilians and key infrastructure, adding Moscow had ordered 2,000 and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba urged his Iranian counterpart to stop doing so ” instantly “ to deliver arms to Moscow.
In mid-October, EU member states imposed sanctions on three Iranians and an organization accused of the same crimes.
The White House said so too “employed” through possible deliveries of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles to Moscow. “We haven’t seen it confirmed yet, but it remains a concern”added John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council.
Some allegations are backed by the Iranian opposition. The People’s Mujahideen (MEK) movement, reviled by Tehran, claims that drone shipments fly out every week from a base of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s ideological army. “by Russian military cargo planes”.
According to a press release to AFP, they are notably manufactured in factories belonging to the Iranian Aviation and Space Industries Association (IASIA), which the MEK accuses “Bypass sanctions and import prohibited technologies”.
Statements not verified by AFP. But the Iranian drones apparently allowed Moscow to regain a military momentum that has belonged solely to the Ukrainians since late August.
Russia targets civilian infrastructure
According to the American daily Washington Post, while Kyiv is preparing for the winter and has installed more than 1,000 heating stations across the city, the Russian defense minister has repeatedly mentioned the idea that Ukraine’s infrastructure is a “military target”.
The capital of Ukraine finds itself again ” in the dark “ after the restrictions on the use of electricity, writes the New York Times, which also points out that Ukrainians are also preparing for a nuclear attack, with the installation of more than 400 anti-nuclear shelters in the city.
chevron_left chevron_right