Sources: If Ukraine uses 'dirty bomb', West to bear consequences

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Al Mayadeen correspondent quoted sources familiar with the matter as saying on Monday that "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his regime's fate were the subjects of the recent Russian-Western contacts."

"Moscow has warned the West that it will bear the consequences of Kiev's use of a dirty bomb," the sources said.

The future of "Ukraine and its borders will be determined at a potential meeting between the Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia," the sources added.

Earlier today, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media that Ukraine's provocations about using the "dirty bomb" are clear, adding that "this information was brought to the attention of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s counterparts."

Commenting on the idea that some countries do not believe that these threats are true, he said, "Their distrust towards the information that was shared by the Russian side does not mean that the threat such a 'dirty bomb' may be used ceases to exist. The threat is obvious," Peskov said.

"It's up to them to believe or not to believe," Peskov added.

According to credible sources cited on Sunday by the Russian news agency Sputnik, Kiev is preparing to use the "dirty bomb" in Ukraine to blame Russia for using nuclear weapons.

Per the sources, Kiev is planning on carrying out provocations on its own land using what is called the "dirty bomb" or a low-power nuclear weapon, with the aim of accusing Moscow of using weapons of mass destruction, which would lead to a smear campaign against Moscow. 

With Western command, the sources said, Kiev has started the practical application, the final stage, as a refinery in Dnepropetrovsk and the Kiev Institute for Nuclear Research are working on assembling the weapon. 

"According to the information we have, two Ukrainian organizations have specific instructions to create the so-called 'dirty bomb.' Works are at the final stage," Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief of Russia's armed forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defense told reporters.

Officials working for Ukrainian President Zelensky's office are conducting confidential calls with UK representatives regarding the possibility of transferring nuclear weapons equipment to Kiev authorities, the sources added.

The provokers believe that if the attack is executed according to plan, most countries will react aggressively, and Moscow will lose support from its main allies. Also, the West will try again to revoke Russia's membership in the United Nations Security Council and up their rhetoric against it. 

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed concerns to his French, Turkish, and UK counterparts on Sunday that Kiev, according to credible sources in various countries, including Ukraine, was planning a provocation involving the detonation of a dirty bomb on its own territory in order to blame Moscow for the use of weapons of mass destruction and thus tarnish the country's image.

Foreign ministers of France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, in a joint statement, rejected these claims on Monday. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba rejected the accusations as well.

It is worth noting that Ukraine has a stockpile of radioactive material that can be used for its "dirty bomb", including spent nuclear fuel storage facilities at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, according to the official.