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“Dirty bomb”, “fierce fighting”… A week of tensions in four infographics

The Kremlin’s accusations of a “dirty bomb” against the Ukrainians, fierce fighting in Bakhmout in the east of the country, the results of the Black Sea agreement on grain exports, the ever-increasing number of civilian victims… This week, intense fighting continues in Ukraine, as Vladimir Putin announces the entry into the “most dangerous” decade since 1945. Here is a point in four infographics on this new week of tensions, ending this Friday, 247th day of conflict.

“Fierce fighting” in the East

Map of the situation in Ukraine as of October 28 at 8 a.m. – SIMON MALFATTO, SOPHIE RAMIS / AFP

Fighting continues to rage in eastern Ukraine, near areas controlled by the Russian army. “Extremely fierce fighting” is taking place “near Bakhmout”, in the Donetsk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday, while specifying that the front line is not experiencing significant changes.

In Bakhmout, a small town in the east of the country, Russian soldiers from the private military company Wagner are deployed. Among them, ex-convicts, sent to the front line, have been serving as bait for several weeks, at the rate of seven to eight commandos per night.

The obsession with the “dirty bomb”

Mode of action of a “dirty bomb”, at the heart of mutual accusations between Ukraine and Russia since Sunday – IRIS ROYER DE VERICOURT, ALAIN BOMMENEL, ANIBAL MAIZ CACERES / AFP

Statements from Moscow around a “dirty bomb” prepared by Ukraine punctuated the week of conflict. After a first salvo of accusations from the Kremlin, denied by kyiv, Ukraine’s Western allies stepped up to the plate. In a joint press release, Paris, London and Washington swept aside the words of Russian power.

“Radioactive substances from nuclear fuel storage facilities used in the nuclear power plant [ukrainienne] of Chernobyl can be used,” pointed out Moscow. By dirty bomb, the Russians mean a weapon equipped with a conventional explosive to which radioactive elements would be added. After such a bomb is dropped, decontamination could take months, as the infographic above explains.

Export of cereals, the balance sheet

Chart summarizing the Black Sea Agreement on grain exports.
Chart summarizing the Black Sea Agreement on grain exports. – SABRINA BLANCHARD, CYRIL THEOPHILOS / AFP

While the Black Sea agreement between kyiv and Moscow on grain exports expires on November 22, it’s time to take stock, over a period running from January to September. For corn and wheat, since the agreement, approximately one million tonnes have been exported to developing countries according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. On the corn side, there is a differential of more than two million tonnes between pre-war exports (June to September 2021) and the June-September 2022 period.

For wheat, the difference between the two years is much greater between the two periods (more than eight million tonnes). The agreement between the two countries at war has made it possible to release several million tonnes of cereals which remained at the docks in Ukrainian ports. “Renewing the agreement is essential ‘to continue lowering world food prices and ensuring food security in the world’, the UN said in a press release published on 20 October.

“We will do everything in our power to maintain the agreement”, declared the American Secretary of State Antony Blinken who warns that Russia exposes itself “to great anger” if it does not renew the agreement.

The civilian victims, the terrible count

Map of Ukraine showing civilian casualties recorded by the NGO Acled since February 24.
Map of Ukraine showing civilian casualties recorded by the NGO Acled since February 24. – Jean-Michel CORNU, Sylvie HUSSON, Sophie STUBER / AFP

The tally of the number of civilian casualties continues to swell. As of October 7, 4,403 dead have been recorded since the start of the conflict by the NGO Acled. The evacuation of residents of Kherson, in southern Ukraine, which ended on Friday according to a pro-Russian official, claimed four victims after a bombardment last week according to the pro-Russians.

A charge swept away by Ukraine, as the city of around 290,000 prepares to be the scene of street fighting. The prorussians, who occupy the city, are yielding to the advance of the Ukrainian army. In the midst of the loss estimates assessed by the two belligerents, it is still relatively difficult to obtain reliable information, both on the number of dead soldiers and on civilian losses.

Source: 20minutes

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