Russia briefs China and India on ‘dirty bomb’ claim

Moscow allies told that Ukraine planning to detonate radioactive device on home soil

Russia used calls with allied nations to repeat its claim that Ukraine is planning to use a “dirty bomb” on its own territory to smear Moscow.

Sergei Shoigu, the Kremlin’s defence minister, called his Chinese counterpart and expressed concerns about “possible provocations by Ukraine involving the use of a dirty bomb”, the Russian defence ministry said.

Mr Shoigu held a similar call with Indian officials on Wednesday. It follows conversations in recent days where allegations were raised with Nato defence ministers.

Moscow first levelled the accusation on Sunday that Ukraine was preparing to detonate a “dirty bomb”, an explosive device laced with radioactive material, on its own territory and blame Russia.

Ukraine and its western allies have strongly rejected the claim and fear Russia plans to use the alleged plot as a basis for escalating the nine month war.

Russia raised the accusations at a closed door meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.

The Kremlin has not produced the evidence it claims to have but said Russian troops had been prepared to work under conditions of nuclear contamination.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Moscow was planning a “dirty bomb” attack itself and would blame Ukraine.

A Russian armoured vehicle parked outside the Zaporizhzia plant in September (Reuters)

On Tuesday, Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator said Russia may be developing a “dirty bomb” at the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Energoatom, which runs the Kremlin-held power station, said Russian forces have performed secret work at the facility which the operator suspects to involve spent nuclear fuel.

A spokesperson said Energoatom “assumes ... [the Russians] are preparing a terrorist act using nuclear materials and radioactive waste stored at [the plant].”

The White House on Monday said it did not currently see any evidence to indicate the use of any such weapon by Russia, but said it was “monitoring as best we can”.

Asked about Moscow’s claim on Tuesday, US president Joe Biden said: “Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for it to use a tactical nuclear weapon.

“I’m not guaranteeing you that it’s a false-flag operation yet; I don’t know. But it would be a serious, serious mistake.”