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Russian officials are claiming that Ukraine is planning to use a dirty bomb on its own territory in an attempt to blame the attack on Russia.
The Russian state-run news organization RIA Novosti wrote on Telegram on Sunday that the "purpose" of the planned "provocation is to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction in the Ukrainian theater of operations, and thereby launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world aimed at undermining confidence in Moscow," according to a translation of the post.
In addition, a Russian Foreign Ministry press report also stated that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu "expressed to his French counterpart his concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a 'dirty bomb,'" Ukrinform reported.
A dirty bomb, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is a mix of explosives and radioactive material such as powder or pellets.
"When the dynamite or other explosives are set off, the blast carries radioactive material into the surrounding area," the CDC states on its website.
The CDC added that the main danger presented by a dirty bomb comes from its explosion, noting that its radioactive materials "would probably not create enough radiation exposure to cause immediate serious illness, except to those people who are very close to the blast site."
A dirty bomb has never been used in conflict, Christopher Fettweis, a professor of political science at Tulane University, told Newsweek on Sunday.
"They're more theoretical than real," Fettweis said, who added that the idea the Ukrainians would use a dirty bomb on their own territory is "crazy."
"It seems to me this is one of these figments of Putin's imagination, that he likes to throw out there and put on RT," Fettweis said, referring to the Russian state-media organization. "It would not make any sense for the Ukrainians to do something like that. Even to try to get public opinion against the Russians because why would anyone believe the Russians?"
Fettweis added that he believes the intended audience for Russia's claims isn't the international community, but the Russian people. He noted that "Putin's biggest problem now to a large degree" isn't the Ukrainian army, but Russian public opinion. Russia is likely using the statement to rally people against Ukraine, he said.
"If the target here would be the Russian people it would make some sense to try to remind them that they're really up against a desperate, evil enemy that is backed by NATO and has to be destroyed," Fettweis said.
Newsweek has reached out to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the Ukraine Ministry of Defense for comment.
About the writer
Xander Landen is a Newsweek weekend reporter. His focus is often U.S. politics, but he frequently covers other issues including ... Read more