Ukraine’s Security Council Secretary dismisses Russia’s claims about Sevastopol Bay attack as “paranoia and delusions”
KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – SUNDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2022, 20:50
Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine, dismissed as delusional Russia’s claims that the unmanned surface vessels (USVs) that attacked Russian ships in Sevastopol on 29 October were launched from a civilian ship which was being used as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. [The Black Sea Grain Initiative is an agreement brokered by the UN with Russia and Türkiye launched on 22 July to enable ships to transport grain from Ukraine - ed.]
Source: Oleksii Danilov during the 24/7 national newscast
Quote from Danilov: "This is a delusional, paranoid claim. Perhaps an autumn flare-up among the Russian representatives.
It’s simply impossible. The grain cargo ships have nothing to do with other things taking place in our country, in its occupied territory, Crimea.
The things they keep coming up with are paranoid claims, the further the more so."
Details: Danilov additionally said that Russia is using the suspension of its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative as blackmail ahead of the G20 meeting.
"We must realise that this is Russia’s usual blackmail. A G20 meeting is set to take place on 15 November. Whether Russia as a country, and its current president, will take part remains to be seen… They have come up with the idea of withdrawing from the so-called humanitarian corridor [the Grain Initiative - ed.] in order to blackmail not just our country, but the entire world," Danilov said.
Previously: The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has suggested that the USVs that attacked the Russian Black Sea Fleet ships on 29 October were launched from aboard a civilian vessel near Odesa, which, the Russian ministry has claimed, was being used as part of the Grain Initiative. They have based these statements on the analysis of the navigation modules of the USVs.
Background:
- On 29 October, explosions were reported in the Russian-occupied city of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula. The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had attacked Sevastopol using unmanned surface vessels (USVs) at 04:00 on 29 October. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Ivan Golubets minesweeper sustained damage as a result of the attack.
- Later, it became known that at least three ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including the Admiral Makarov flagship, were damaged as a result of the USV attack on 29 October.
- Russian Defence Ministry has accused the British Navy of having planned and carried out "terrorist attacks" on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. The Ministry announced that preparations for the "attack" on Sevastopol were carried out under the guidance of members of the British Navy, who are currently allegedly in the Ukrainian city of Ochakiv.
- The southern defence forces of Ukraine suspect that failed launches of air defence missiles by the Russian occupiers could be a reason for explosions in Sevastopol on Saturday.
- The Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs has announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative for an indefinite period.
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