DISINFO: Ukraine and its Western curators plan to detonate a dirty bomb to blame Russia
SUMMARY
Ukrainian neo-Nazis who, at the instigation of their Western advisers, intended to carry out a provocation on their territory with the detonation of a so-called ‘dirty bomb’ in order to accuse Russia of nuclear terrorism. It has been uncovered thanks to the work of Russian special services.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin disinformation on the alleged terrorist nature of Kyiv and nuclear threat. The article also contains a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing Ukraine of Nazism which has been debunked many times by EUvsDisinfo.
There is no credible evidence to back the claim that Ukraine is preparing a nuclear provocation or the use of weapons of mass destruction. Ukraine has been a nuclear weapons-free country since 1994 when the Budapest memorandum was signed.
Disinformation aiming to exploit fears about a nuclear catastrophe is part of Russia’s nuclear blackmail campaign. Other elements include the Kremlin's irresponsible nuclear arms sabre-rattling.
Accusing others of “false flag operations” and “setups” to increase tensions or cover Russia’s own illicit actions are frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation techniques. Russian authorities and pro-Kremlin outlets frequently make these claims even if nothing emerges afterwards, aiming to reinforce the narrative that Russia is constantly the victim of such operations.
This is not the first time the Kremlin’s manipulation and disinformation machine has used a deep-seated and reasonable fear of a nuclear disaster to advance its political and military goals in Ukraine. Pro-Kremlin sources have previously accused Ukraine of constructing a dirty nuclear bomb or carrying out a provocation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
In 1998, Ukraine signed an Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and in 2006 a Protocol Additional to the Agreement which provides for strict control not only over the nuclear material present on the territory of the country, but for any nuclear research.
Western leaders reject Russia's 'dirty bomb' claim and warned that such allegations can be used as a pretext for greater escalation.
Read also related cases: Zelenskyy will implement a nuclear provocation before the NATO summit helped by Britain and Baltic states, Ukraine continues to work on using a dirty nuclear bomb to blame Russia for it, Radioactive substances brought to Ukraine could be used to make a "dirty bomb", Kyiv passed from rejecting nuclear weapons to preparing a dirty bomb.