The Russian defense minister has shared concerns with his French counterpart about a possible Ukrainian provocation involving the use of a “dirty bomb”, likely a low yield tactical nuke.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Sergey Shoigu and Sebastien Lecornu spoke by phone on Sunday, discussing “the situation in Ukraine, which is consistently veering towards further uncontrolled escalation.”
Shoigu, in an apparent reference to previous media reports, voiced concerns about a “possible Ukrainian provocation” which could involve the use of a “dirty bomb.”
Earlier on Sunday, RIA Novosti cited “sources in different countries including Ukraine” as saying that Kiev is preparing to detonate “a dirty bomb or a low-yield nuclear weapon” on its own territory. According to the Russian news agency, 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 claimed that two Ukrainian institutions have already been tasked with manufacturing a “dirty bomb,” with the work now at “the final stages.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s administration is reportedly engaged in behind-the-scenes talks with British officials and the MI6 in a bid to secure the transfer of nuclear arms components to Kiev.
A so-called dirty bomb uses a conventional explosive combined with radioactive material. While it could not rival a nuclear warhead in terms of power, such a device could disperse a radiation cloud within several kilometers of the explosion.
Ukraine has been eviscerated on the battlefield, losing roughly 1,000 soldiers per day with Kiev forcibly recruiting males from the age of 16 to 65. Moscow has been rather strangely patient, however after the terrorist attack on Crimea’s bridge, since October 10, Ukraine is being methodically taken apart (railways, utilities, infrastructure…), as a result, the desperation among Kiev officials is quite high.
