Ukraine war: Ukrainian 'dirty bomb', Kherson local militias, downed Iranian drones
Moscow repeated claims on Monday that Ukraine is making a "dirty bomb", an allegation rebuffed by international experts.
Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu first made the accusation on Sunday during a call with his US, UK, French and Turkish counterparts. He said Moscow was "concerned" about "possible provocations" by Ukraine involving a "dirty bomb".
Kyiv has fiercely condemned these allegations, inviting international inspectors to come and view its nuclear facilities.
A "dirty bomb" is made by packing conventional explosives with radioactive material, which then spreads in the air once the device goes off.
"According to the information we have, two Ukrainian organisations have specific instructions for making the so-called 'dirty bomb," said Russian General Igor Kirillov on Monday, claiming their work had entered the "final phase".
"The purpose of this provocation is to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine and thus to launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world," he said.
Ukrainian officials immediately denied these allegations, with the head of Ukraine's diplomatic service Dmytro Kouleba calling them "absurd" and "dangerous" remarks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the world to "react as harshly as possible" to Russia's accusations.
On Monday, Kouleba said he spoke to the International Atomic Energy Agency and "officially invited" experts from the UN body to visit "peaceful installations in Ukraine" that Russia "misleadingly claims" are developing a "dirty bomb".
Grossi "has accepted," said Kouleba. "Unlike Russia, Ukraine has always been and remains transparent. We have nothing to hide."
Paris, London, and Washington have lambasted Moscow's "false" statements.
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