Russia defense minister raises Ukraine ‘dirty bomb’ threat with India, China counterparts

Amid boiling tensions between Russia and the US-led Western countries over the war in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in a video call with his Chinese and Indian counterparts, has sounded the alarm that Ukraine was preparing a provocation using a “dirty bomb.”

“The situation in Ukraine was discussed. Army General Sergei Shoigu conveyed to his Chinese counterpart [Wei Fenghe] concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a ‘dirty bomb’,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Shoigu earlier on Wednesday had voiced the same “concern” in a phone call with India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. Singh told his Russian counterpart that nuclear weapons should not be used by any side in the war, according to an Indian government statement.

Shoigu also made warnings in phone calls on October 23 with his counterparts from the United States, Britain, France and Turkey.

Moscow alleges that 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 Kiev was in the “final stage” of developing such a bomb.

A "dirty bomb" will be composed of radioactive elements “creating radioactive contamination over large areas, and potentially also leading to radiation diseases” after detonation.

Pentagon to move bio-weapons programs from Ukraine: Russia

Russia says it has discovered signs of several bio laboratories in Ukraine.

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.

Russian officials have repeatedly alleged Ukraine could detonate such a device in a false-flag operation to frame Moscow. Ukrainian authorities have made similar accusations against Russia.

On October 23, 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 the “bomb” reasonable enough.

Peskov on Tuesday said the West was foolish to dismiss the threat of the use of a “dirty bomb” by Ukraine.

Moscow has recently sent a letter to the United Nations, informing the world body about such a threat.

Russia to UN chief, Security Council: Ukraine use of 'dirty bomb' act of nuclear terrorism

Russia says Ukraine

Also on Wednesday, Russia rehearsed its response to a nuclear attack in an exercise that involved nuclear submarines, strategic bombers and ballistic missiles at a time when tensions are running high between Moscow and Western countries. 

Unnamed diplomats told Reuters Russia planned to raise the issue at a closed-door meeting at the UN Security Council.

Russia began its “special military operation” in Ukraine on February 24. Since the onset of operation, the US and its European allies have unleashed waves of unprecedented sanctions against the Kremlin and poured numerous batches of advanced weapons into Ukraine to help its army fend off Russian troops.

The harsh sanctions have frozen about half of Russia’s gold and foreign exchange reserves, which stood near $640 billion before the beginning of the operation.

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