Russia’s Ministry of Defense on Sunday warned that Ukrainian forces would use a “dirty bomb” and blame Moscow in a significant escalation of the monthslong conflict, which Ukraine has denied.
In phone calls with French, UK, and Turkish counterparts Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned about “about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a ‘dirty bomb,’” according to the Russian Ministry of Defense in a statement. Later, the ministry warned about a possible Ukrainian false-flag attack on its own civilians to “accuse Russia of killing the civilians.”
A dirty bomb uses conventional explosives laced with radioactive material. Russia’s Defense Ministry did not provide evidence for its claims against the Kyiv government.
Reports indicated that Shoigu also held a phone call with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the second such phone call since the start of the conflict in February. Hours after the call, Austin told Shoigu that he “rejected any pretext for Russian escalation,” according to a Pentagon statement.
And the White House National Security Council also rejected Shoigu’s claims. “The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation,” read a statement from the Council.
Britain’s Defense Ministry, in a statement, said it denies claims that Western nations want to escalate the conflict and “cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation.”
Ukraine Denies
After Shoigu’s statement was issued, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied the dirty bomb claims and accused Russia of staging a provocation.
“And there’s only one subject who can use nuclear weapons in our part of Europe, and this subject is the one who ordered comrade Shoigu to call somewhere,” the Ukrainian leader said Sunday.
