The diplomatic circles in Britain have come out strongly warning against the escalating attacks by the Russian government on the Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, terming the situation a growing “humanitarian catastrophe”. The warning was echoed in a statement by the UK ambassador, Neil Holland, at the latest session of the Organization on Security and Co-operation in Europe, where he underscored the “targeting” plans far beyond the military means.
Russian missile strikes on civilian infrastructure with deadly precision
A major drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure last weekend led to the deaths of civilians and blackouts in various regions, reported UK diplomatic sources. In a verdict, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission finds that the widespread and predictable assault on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure by the Russian government could violate international humanitarian law because of its significant effect on the essential services sectors, such as heating, water, and health.
These strikes represent far more than military strategy—a deliberate intention to inflict the greatest harm on the civilian populace, beginning with the approach of winter, would appear to be the truth. The Russian claim that the targets include only “military-relevant facilities” cannot possibly add up, since there appears to be a deliberate strike on power stations, nodes, and energy sources that serve far more civilians than the military.
Nuclear safety concerns mount as power grid attacks intensify
The International Atomic Energy Agency has called attention to the dangers posed by the vulnerability of external power sources in the cooling systems at the nuclear and spent fuel facilities. The ongoing incidents that have forced nuclear power plants into using their back-up power sources have made clear the dangers in the war zone where the plants operate. Britain says the area “is one accident away from disaster” because of the bombing.
These attacks pose threats to the nuclear power stations through connections that provide power to the cooling systems, and the only protection against meltdowns in such instances would come from the use of power from the standby power generators. The threats posed by the energy scenario in the Ukraine conflict are reflected in the IAEA alert over the nuclear threats posed.
Critical nuclear risks include:
- Degradation by external power: Strikes on nuclear power grid connections
- Backup system strain: typically applies when the primary power source for an institution, such as a hospital, relies on
- Cooling system threats: Cooling the reactor and the spent fuel pools requires reliable electric power.
- Regional catastrophe risk: The nuclear disaster could impact several European countries
UK condemns Russian peace proposals as diplomatic deception
Britain’s diplomatic evaluation conveys strongly its skepticism about the “long-term settlement” that the Russians themselves are seeking, since the terms of peace proposed by the Russians are tantamount to forced intervention.
“Russia’s so-called peace terms would reward invasion, legitimize occupation, and grant the veto on Ukraine’s future, among other things,” said Britain’s envoy, James Hollings.
The UK asserts that in any genuine settlement, the international legal framework, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, all agreed on by the members of the OSCE, must be assured. The UK believes that the security needs and demands of any country, including the Russian Federation, would be better assured through compliance with the internationally recognized legal framework rather than territorial aggression.
Britain’s assessment of the mounting attacks on civilians by the Russian action has a calculating policy on the maximization of the grief and pain suffered by the civilians, all the while keeping the regime intact in terms of militarily targeted forces. The warning signals regarding the nuclear threats and disregard for the peace offer by the Russians signify the collective growing fear that the Russian regime poses threats beyond the sovereignty of the Ukrainian government.
