Russia warns Ukraine planning to stage 'nuclear incident' to blame Moscow
Russia has warned that Ukraine is planning to stage a false-flag "nuclear incident" on its territory to pin the blame on Moscow ahead of a United Nations meeting.
Russia's Defense Ministry issued the warning on Sunday, describing the potential incident as "a large-scale provocation" planned by Kiev.
The ministry added that the radioactive material that was needed for the plan has been already transported to Ukraine from a European country.
"The aim of the provocation is to accuse Russia's army of allegedly carrying out indiscriminate strikes on hazardous radioactive facilities in Ukraine, leading to the leakage of radioactive substances and contamination of the area," the ministry said.
Since the start of the Ukraine war nearly a year ago, Moscow has frequently accused Kiev of planning false-flag operations using non-conventional weapons involving biological or radioactive materials.
Last October, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who heads the Russian Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Force, said Ukraine was in the "final stage" of creating a "dirty bomb," referring to a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste.
“According to the information we have, two organizations in Ukraine have specific instructions to create a so-called ‘dirty bomb’. This work is in its final stage,” Kirillov said in a statement. He added that Kiev was planning to accuse Russia of “using weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine and thus launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world.”
According to the statement, the so-called dirty bomb will be composed of radioactive elements “creating radioactive contamination over large areas, and potentially also leading to radiation diseases” after detonation.
Two days later, Russian President Vladimir Putin echoed the general's remarks, saying, "We are aware of Ukraine's plans to use a 'dirty bomb'."
He added that the risk of conflict in the world and the region was high and that security had to be heightened around key infrastructural sites.
Also last year, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia warned of Ukraine's plans to deploy a "dirty bomb" during the war, saying the move amounted to an act of "nuclear terrorism" and urging the United Nations to help avert the prospect.
Ukraine and its allies have dismissed Russia's accusations as "cynical attempts to spread disinformation," accusing Moscow of planning incidents itself in a bid to blame Ukraine.
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