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Britain’s envoy to Russia attended a meeting at Russia’s foreign ministry after she was summoned by the baseless allegation that Royal Navy personnel were involved in an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea fleet. As Deborah Bronnert arrived at Russia’s foreign ministry at 10.30am on Thursday, she was ambushed by a small crowd shouting anti-British slogans and holding placards reading: “Britain is a terrorist state”. Other makeshift signs, decorated with crude drawings of the Union Jack flag, teacups, guns, Big Ben and red double-decker buses, bore the words “No British terror” and “Sevastopol terror attack is Britain’s fault”. Russian intelligence agencies claim that the attack on their fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea – a region annexed by Vladimir Putin in 2014 – was carried out from Ukraine, under the direction and leadership of British naval experts. The UK has strongly denied any involvement in the alleged attack, dismissing Russia’s accusation as “false”. It comes as Russian bombing has disconnected the Zaporizhia nuclear plant from Ukraine’s grid in an attack that knocked out the last remaining high-voltage power lines, officials said today.

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Russia says world’s five nuclear powers are ‘on the brink of armed conflict’

The world’s five major nuclear powers are teetering “on the brink of immediate armed conflict”, Russia has claimed, warning of catastrophic consequences. Accusing the West of “provocation”, Moscow stepped up its nuclear rhetoric, pointing to “irresponsible and brazen actions aimed at undermining our national security”. The foreign ministry statement said avoiding nuclear conflict was the country’s top priority and that Russia stood by a joint statement with the US, China, Britain and France in January affirming their shared responsibility to avoid nuclear war . Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 12:50 1667478313

Russian missiles “hit energy infrastructure in two Ukrainian regions”

Russian missile attacks hit energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions late Wednesday, further complicating the work of the energy system, Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergohas said. Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions are both Ukrainian steelmaking hubs. Russian strikes have destroyed 40 percent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 12:25 1667476813

UK ambassador booed by crowd of anti-British protesters as she is summoned to Russia’s foreign ministry

The British envoy to Russia attended a meeting at Russia’s foreign ministry after she was summoned over allegations that Royal Navy personnel were involved in an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on the Black Sea fleet. Russian intelligence agencies claim that the attack on their fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea – a region annexed by Vladimir Putin in 2014 – was carried out from Ukraine, under the direction and leadership of British naval experts. Moscow claims the October 29 drone strike destroyed its minesweeper “Ivan Golubets” and a capo dam in Yuzhnaya Bay. Read our full report here: Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 12:00 1667474655

Russia, Ukraine ‘will release 214 captured fighters on Thursday’

Moscow and Kyiv will hand over 107 captured fighters on Thursday, according to an official stationed in Russia. Details of this latest prisoner exchange were posted on Telegram by Denis Pushilin, administrator of Russian-controlled areas in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 11:24 1667472990

Russian delegation ‘continues work at grain trading center’

A Russian delegation restarted work at the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) that runs the Black Sea Grain Agreement operations in Istanbul and took part in ship inspections on Thursday, according to the UN. He said the queue for inspections has been significantly reduced, as there are currently over 120 ships waiting to move, mostly those planning an inbound voyage. Russia temporarily suspended participation in the UN-brokered initiative on Saturday after what it said was a major drone attack on its ships, and resumed participation in the deal on Wednesday. Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 10:56 1667471332

Watch: Russian conscripts protest pay at Ulyanovsk military base

Russian conscripts protest pay at military base in Ulyanovsk Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 10:28 1667469847

Moscow claims it foiled Ukrainian ‘terrorist attack’ at Zaporizhzhia plant

A senior Russian official claimed that Moscow had prevented a Ukrainian attack on the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine. Ukraine says Russia has repeatedly bombed the plant, despite Russian claims to the contrary. Both sides deny the other charges. Ukrainian forces “continue to bomb the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with Western weapons, which could lead to global catastrophe,” said Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin. Patrushev said Russian special services prevented a “terrorist attack” on the plant. Repeated bombing of the plant has raised the possibility of a serious accident just 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident, the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 10:04 1667468472

Watch: British ambassador summoned to Russian Foreign Ministry meets anti-UK protesters

The British ambassador summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry met with anti-UK protesters Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 09:41 1667467113

Lavrov calls on the UN to ease Russian food exports

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow had called on the United Nations to help fulfill part of a Black Sea grain deal that would facilitate Russia’s own food exports. Lavrov was speaking at a news conference in Jordan, a day after Russia said it would continue its participation in the initiative, reversing its decision last weekend to suspend its role in the deal. Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 09:18 1667465484

‘Britain is a terrorist state’, Russian protesters chant as UK ambassador arrives at Foreign Office

As the UK’s ambassador to Moscow, Deborah Bronnert, arrived at Russia’s foreign ministry at 10.30am on Wednesday, she was greeted by a small crowd chanting anti-British slogans and holding placards reading: “Britain is a terrorist state”. (EPA) Emily Atkinson3 November 2022 08:51