Russian claims about dirty bombs ‘appear to be scare tactics’
Russia maintains that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb, which is an explosive device laced with radioactive material. It is expected to make its case at the United Nations Security Council later Tuesday. However, such allegations have been common in Russia’s behaviour during the war.
Russia has never provided any evidence to support its claim that Ukraine possessed a dirty bomb.
Despite discussing its concerns with a number of Western officials, the Kremlin appears to be hesitant to air them publicly.
Lt Gen Igor Kirillov, commander of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defence Troops, said that work by Ukrainian organisations was “in the final stages.”
However, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu’s unusual Sunday phone calls to his American, British, French, and Turkish counterparts did not appear to impress anyone.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the United States, France, and the United Kingdom called Russia’s claim “clearly false.”
It’s all very reminiscent of the days leading up to Russia’s invasion on February 24, when the Kremlin accused the US of developing biological weapons in Ukraine. Once again, no evidence was ever presented.
Dirty bombs, which combine radioactive material with conventional explosives, are relatively inexpensive and simple to construct. Given the ability to use virtually any type of radioactive material, including that obtained from hospitals and research labs, governments have long feared that terrorists would attempt to use such a crude weapon.
The allegation of a dirty bomb is just one of several made by Moscow in recent days. Ukraine has also been accused of preparing to blow up the Nova Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River, which could have equally disastrous consequences.
Ukraine, for its part, claims that only Moscow has ever considered such drastic measures.
