The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog, says its inspectors have toured two sites in Ukraine at the heart of Russian claims that Kiev is preparing a “dirty bomb.”
Investigators would come back in the coming days in response to a request from Ukraine, said Director General Rafael Grossi.
Russia has not provided any evidence to back up its claims, which Nato rejects.
Ukraine’s Leader Volodymyr Zelensky warned that it could mean Russia is planning a similar attack.
Dirty bombs contain radioactive material, including uranium, which is dispersed in the air when a conventional explosive is detonated. They don’t have to comprise highly refined radioactive material like a nuclear bomb, which makes them less expensive and easier to maneuver.
According to Mr. Grossi, the IAEA “inspected one of these locations a month ago, and all of our results were coherent with Ukraine’s safeguards proclamations.” “There were no undisclosed nuclear practices or material found there,” he stated “.
- What exactly is a ‘dirty bomb’?
Russia’s state-run news agency, RIA Novosti, said it had discovered two sites as central to the alleged Ukrainian operation: the Eastern Mineral Enrichment Plant in central Dnipropetrovsk region as well as the Institute for Nuclear Research in Kyiv.
The allegation is expected to be repeated by Moscow during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday.
In a memo to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Russia’s representative to the Security Council, Vassily Nebenzia, stated that his country would “regard the Kyiv regime’s use of the dirty bomb as an act of nuclear terrorism.”
“Our Ministry of Defence also has got word that this act of aggression can be carried out with Western countries’ support,” Mr Nebenzia did write in his letter.
Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected Moscow’s allegations, made by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.
The US, UK, and French foreign ministers issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the claims as “transparently false” and saying the “globe would recognize any effort to use this accusation as a pretext for escalation.”
Meanwhile, during his nightly address on Monday, President Zelensky stated that “if Russia calls and claims that Ukraine is supposedly preparing anything, it means one thing: Russia already has prepared all of this.”
Western intelligence chiefs have been emphasizing that there is no evidence that Russia is planning to use dirty bombs or other nuclear devices.
The Russian allegations come as Ukrainian forces advance in the southern Kherson region. Kyiv initiated a counter-attack in the region in August, and its forces have gradually moved towards Kherson city, the regional capital.
Moscow-installed representatives have fled the city in recent days, urging civilians to flee across the Dnieper River into Russian territory.
Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, cautions state media that Russian troops in the area were preparing to defend the city rather than retreat.
“They are giving the impression that everything is lost.
At the same time, they are deploying new military units and preparing to secure Kherson’s streets “Mr. Budanov stated.
Regional authorities have stated that some men who choose to stay in the city will be able to join local militias to protect it, raising concerns that Moscow may force men into military formations. Under the Geneva Convention, such actions would be considered war crimes.
During its invasion, Russian forces only managed to capture Kherson, a major Ukrainian city and regional capital.
