Russian claims Ukraine may use a “dirty bomb” within the battle have been branded “nuclear blackmail” and dismissed by the West.
With its forces going through a string of battlefield defeats and a danger of being routed within the south, the Kremlin has pushed allegations that Kyiv may use such a blast by itself territory – with out providing proof.
The UK, USA and France have rejected the claims as “transparently false” and stated the world would see by way of any try to make use of it as a pretext for escalation.
Russia going through ‘inevitable defeat’ in largest metropolis it holds – Ukraine battle newest updates
It comes as Ukrainians are being requested to preserve electrical energy because the nation’s energy networks proceed to be hammered by Russian missiles and drones.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu mentioned the “rapidly deteriorating situation” in Ukraine throughout telephone calls together with his British, French and Turkish counterparts, the ministry stated.
Without offering proof, he stated Ukraine may escalate by utilizing a so-called “dirty bomb” – standard explosives laced with radioactive materials.
Ukraine doesn’t possess nuclear weapons, having given up those it inherited from the Soviet Union in 1994.
Russia, nonetheless, has stated it may shield its territory with its personal nuclear arsenal and has repeatedly engaged in nuclear sabre-rattling to antagonise the West.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated “everyone understands” that Russia is “the source of everything dirty that can be imagined in this war”.
Speaking on Telegram, he known as on the world to react within the “toughest possible way.”
He added: “If Russia has prepared another round of raising stakes and another escalating step, it must see now, pre-emptively and before any new ‘dirt’, that the world will not swallow that.”
Ukraine’s defence minister Oleksii Reznikov stated Moscow’s allegations had been “fake” and an act of “nuclear blackmail”.
In a joint assertion, the overseas ministers of the UK, USA and France stated: “Our countries made clear that we all reject Russia’s transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory.
“The world would see by way of any try to make use of this allegation as a pretext for escalation.
“We further reject any pretext for escalation by Russia.”
Source: information.sky.com”