The UN Security Council will hold a closed session on Tuesday to consider Russia’s allegations that Ukraine plans to use a “dirty bomb”. According to diplomatic sources, the meeting is taking place at the initiative of Russia. In a letter to the Security Council and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebensia, again accused Ukraine of “provocation”. Kiev denies the allegations.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reiterated that his country does not have a “dirty bomb” and does not intend to develop. Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994 and has no plans to buy new ones. Moscow’s repeated accusations that Ukraine plans to use such a bomb have raised concerns in Ukraine that Russia itself plans to do so under a “false flag”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said it appears that Russia itself plans to use such a bomb and then blames Ukraine.
Western powers: ‘Russian accusations incorrect’
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu first raised the allegations in telephone conversations with his colleagues from the United States, France, Britain and Turkey on Sunday. Shoigu spoke of “possible provocations on the part of Ukraine through the use of a ‘dirty bomb'”.
Washington, Paris and London dismissed the allegations as “transparently false claims” by Moscow in a joint statement. “Reminder: Ukraine has no nuclear weapons,” the UK UN mission tweeted ahead of the Security Council meeting.
Explosive device with radioactive material
A “dirty bomb” is a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material into the environment when detonated. Unlike atomic bombs, such explosives do not produce a nuclear explosion.
In response to Russian allegations of bioweapons against the United States and Ukraine, Russia has now submitted a resolution to the United Nations Security Council. The draft resolution, which did not give the 15-member body a chance, was sent by letter to the most powerful UN body on Tuesday. The resolution is seen as another attempt by Moscow to validate unsubstantiated claims about the US government’s alleged production of bioweapons in Ukraine.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
