Alwaght‐ Russia has stepped up its claim about Ukraine “dirty bomb” in a letter delivered to the UN.
Moscow says Ukraine is developing a “dirty bomb” on its own territory, with Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the chief of the Russian Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Force, saying on Monday that Kiev was in the “final stage” of developing such a bomb.
Kirillov’s warning came just a day after Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu accused Ukraine of preparing a “provocation” involving the use of an alleged dirty bomb.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov have made similar claims.
Moscow says Ukraine could detonate such a device in a false-flag operation to accuse Russia.
This is while Ukraine and its allies reject the allegation. On Sunday, the US Department of State released a statement jointly issued by Britain, the US, and France, claiming that London, Washington, and Paris did not consider Russian warnings about the possibility of Ukraine using a “dirty bomb” reasonable.
Moscow, however, sent a letter to the UN on Monday, informing the world body about such a threat. It is expected that Russia presses the case at the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
Unnamed diplomats told Reuters that Russia planned to raise the issue at a closed-door meeting at the UNSC.
“We will regard the use of the dirty bomb by the Kiev regime as an act of nuclear terrorism,” Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Security Council in the letter, seen by Reuters.
Peskov on Tuesday also said that the West was foolish to dismiss the threat of the use of a dirty bomb by Ukraine.
Kiev in response claims the dirty bomb allegation shows Russia is planning such an attack and is seeking to blame Ukraine.
The Kremlin alleges that Kiev has ordered two organizations to develop a dirty bomb, without giving any evidence.
While it does not have the devastating effects of a nuclear weapon, a dirty bomb could still contaminate large swathes of land with radioactive waste.
Moscow thinks that the bomb making could be assisted by the West. On Monday, it accused Britain of sending experts to Ukraine to work for production of nuclear warheads.
These accusations come as the Western officials warn Russia could nuke Ukraine as they claim Kiev is making advances. Russian officials ruled out possibility of use of nukes in Ukraine.
