Ukraine's development of 'dirty bomb' almost complete: Moscow
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If detonated, the explosion is expected to contaminate several thousand square meters of terrain.
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Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense, Igor Kirillov (TASS)
Ukraine's development of a "dirty bomb" is in the final stage, according to Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief of Russia's armed forces' radiation, chemical, and biological defense.
"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," Kirillov told reporters.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine's deployment of a "dirty bomb" will contaminate several thousand square meters of terrain if used. "The detonation of a radiological explosive device will inevitably lead to radioactive contamination of the area of up to several thousand square meters," Kirillov told reporters.
According to the official, Kiev has a reason for using the "dirty bomb," as well as the scientific, technological, and production capabilities to create it.
Read next: Ukraine may use 'dirty bomb': Russia warns France, Turkey, UK
The Ministry revealed that with the detonation of the "dirty bomb", radioactive isotopes will spread in the atmosphere at a distance of up to 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) and can cover Poland.
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.
Kiev to disguise "dirty bomb" detonation as Russian ammunition explosion: Moscow
Kirillov accused Ukraine of planning to conceal the detonation of a "dirty bomb" as an aberrant triggering of a Russian nuclear weapon.
"According to the plans of the Kiev regime, the explosion of such a munition can be disguised as an abnormal triggering of a Russian low-yield nuclear munition, in which highly enriched uranium is used as a charge. The presence of radioactive isotopes in the air will subsequently be recorded by the sensors of the international monitoring system installed in Europe, with subsequent accusation of Russia in the use of tactical nuclear weapons," Kirillov told reporters.
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.
Moreover, the Russian Ministry of Defense has alerted forces and means in case of Ukraine blows up a "dirty bomb', the top defense official said on Monday.
"The Ministry of Defense has organized work to counter possible provocations from Ukraine: the forces and means are ready to perform tasks in conditions of radioactive contamination," Kirillov told reporters.
