Ukraine ‘dirty bomb’ threat with Indian counterpart

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday discussed the possible use of a “dirty bomb” by Ukraine with his Indian counterpart, the Russian military said in a statement. The United States and its allies have rejected Russia’s allegations that Kyiv is preparing to use a radioactive “dirty bomb” and voiced concern that Moscow was using that as a pretext for a further escalation in the war.

On Wednesday, Shoigu told his Indian counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman that he had held several conversations with NATO officials over the past few days concerning “the possible use of a dirty bomb by Ukraine and the threat this poses to Russia, its allies and international security in general,” the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The Russian defence ministry said in a statement that Shoigu held a phone call with Indian Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. It said Shoigu updated Sitharaman about the alleged activities of Ukrainian military instructors training “terrorists” to use a dirty bomb, which can spread radioactive material. It did not elaborate on the details of their conversation.