DISINFO: Work on the creation of a "dirty bomb" is coming to an end in Ukraine
SUMMARY
Work on the creation of Ukraine's "dirty bomb" is coming to an end.
Two organisations in Ukraine have specific instructions to create a so-called dirty bomb. The works are at the final stage. Moscow is aware of contacts between the office of the President of Ukraine and representatives of the UK on the possible acquisition of nuclear weapons technology. There are enterprises in Ukraine that can provide the resources necessary for a low-yield nuclear weapon: three operating nuclear power plants (South-Ukrainian, Khmelnitsky and Rivne) and the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
RESPONSE
Conspiracy theory, accusing Ukraine of creating a dirty bomb and posing a nuclear threat to Russia.
There is no evidence that Ukraine is attempting to use nuclear materials in a war against Russia.
Pro-Kremlin sources have previously accused Ukraine of constructing a (dirty) nuclear bomb. Before the full-scale invasion on 24 February, the Kremlin-owned RIA Novosti article stated that “Kyiv is literally one step away” from creating tactical nuclear weapon. It alleged that "Russophobic authorities" in Kyiv are acquiring a dirty bomb. It was one of the reasons for invasion.
In early March, the Kremlin-owned RT alleged that, based on the evidence from the then-occupied Chornobyl nuclear power plant, Ukraine was close to building a plutonium-based "dirty bomb".
Another pro-Kremlin source claimed in May 2022 that Ukraine has stockpiled 40 tons of uranium and 30 tons of plutonium on Zaporizhzhia NPP to create a dirty nuclear bomb.
Western leaders reject Russia's 'dirty bomb' claim and warned that such allegations can be used as a pretext for greater escalation. Ukraine asked the IAEA to "immediately send experts to peaceful facilities in Ukraine, which the Russian Federation falsely describes as sites for the development of a 'dirty bomb'."
Ukraine has been a nuclear-free country since 1994 when the Budapest memorandum was signed. 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.
From the first day of the war, Russia has been voicing its right to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine at all levels, from high-ranking officials to propagandists.
Talk about the use of tactical nuclear weapons intensified after illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories. Without providing evidence, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that top NATO officials had said that it’d be acceptable to carry out nuclear strikes on Russia. He threatened to use nuclear weapons adding that "This is not a bluff".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO to conduct “preventive action” against Russia to prevent their use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Read also related cases: Ukraine and the West are preparing a nuclear provocation , Russia has never threatened anyone with nuclear weapons , Russia did not violate the Budapest memorandum, Volodymyr Zelensky asks NATO to launch a nuclear war against Russia.