MOSCOW - Russia has claimed that Ukraine is preparing a possible 'provocation' involving the use of a 'dirty bomb', while the United States and Ukraine claim that this might be a pretext for a Russian 'false flag' operation.
Russian Defense Ministry, Sergey Shoigu spoke on the phone to the Defense Minister for France discussing "the situation in Ukraine, which is consistently veering towards further uncontrolled escalation", according to Russian state news agency RT.
Shoigu voiced 'concerns' about a 'possible Ukrainian provocation' which may involve the use of a 'dirty bomb'.
The Russian state news agency then quoted RIA Novosti as citing "sources in different countries including Ukraine” as saying that Kyiv is preparing to detonate “a dirty bomb or a low-yield nuclear weapon" and then RT added, "on its own territory".
The Russian state news agency said that the goal would be to 'accuse Moscow of using weapons of mass destruction in a ploy to launch a powerful anti-Russia campaign".
The report made claims that two Ukrainian institutions have already been "tasked with manufacturing a 'dirty bomb', with the work now at the 'final stages'.
The Russian news agency also claimed that Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelensky's administration has been engaged in behind-the-scenes' talks with British officials in order to secure the transfer of nuclear arms components to Kyiv, Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba put out multiple statements regarding Russia's accusations:
"A conversation with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. We agreed: by dispersing the wave of disinformation about the "dirty bomb", the Russian Federation may be looking for an excuse for a false flag operation. They discussed practical steps to strengthen air defense. The State Secretary assured that the USA is making every effort for this."
"I spoke to @SecBlinken. We both agreed Russia’s ‘ dirty bomb ’ disinformation campaign might be aimed at creating a pretext for a false flag operation. We also discussed further practical steps to boost Ukraine’s air defense. Secretary affirmed the US spares no effort to this end."
"I spoke to my French counterpart@MinColonna. We both condemned Russia’s ‘dirty bomb’ disinformation campaign. We also coordinated the next steps in our work with other countries and within the UN and IAEA to counter these lies and avert any false flag operations by Russia."
A 'dirty bomb' is an improvised weapon that uses a mixture of nuclear waste material and conventional explosives. It does not tend to have the same yield as a nuclear bomb would, but such an explosion can still spread radioactive waste material into the atmosphere.
Russian Defense Ministry, Sergey Shoigu spoke on the phone to the Defense Minister for France discussing "the situation in Ukraine, which is consistently veering towards further uncontrolled escalation", according to Russian state news agency RT.
Shoigu voiced 'concerns' about a 'possible Ukrainian provocation' which may involve the use of a 'dirty bomb'.
The Russian state news agency then quoted RIA Novosti as citing "sources in different countries including Ukraine” as saying that Kyiv is preparing to detonate “a dirty bomb or a low-yield nuclear weapon" and then RT added, "on its own territory".
The Russian state news agency said that the goal would be to 'accuse Moscow of using weapons of mass destruction in a ploy to launch a powerful anti-Russia campaign".
The report made claims that two Ukrainian institutions have already been "tasked with manufacturing a 'dirty bomb', with the work now at the 'final stages'.
The Russian news agency also claimed that Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelensky's administration has been engaged in behind-the-scenes' talks with British officials in order to secure the transfer of nuclear arms components to Kyiv, Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba put out multiple statements regarding Russia's accusations:
"A conversation with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. We agreed: by dispersing the wave of disinformation about the "dirty bomb", the Russian Federation may be looking for an excuse for a false flag operation. They discussed practical steps to strengthen air defense. The State Secretary assured that the USA is making every effort for this."
"I spoke to @SecBlinken. We both agreed Russia’s ‘ dirty bomb ’ disinformation campaign might be aimed at creating a pretext for a false flag operation. We also discussed further practical steps to boost Ukraine’s air defense. Secretary affirmed the US spares no effort to this end."
"I spoke to my French counterpart@MinColonna. We both condemned Russia’s ‘dirty bomb’ disinformation campaign. We also coordinated the next steps in our work with other countries and within the UN and IAEA to counter these lies and avert any false flag operations by Russia."
A 'dirty bomb' is an improvised weapon that uses a mixture of nuclear waste material and conventional explosives. It does not tend to have the same yield as a nuclear bomb would, but such an explosion can still spread radioactive waste material into the atmosphere.