Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu speaks during a meeting in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
photo: AP
With the continuation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and amid growing international fears of any tendency towards the use of nuclear weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry warned on Sunday of what it described as "Kyiv's provocations."
Uncontrolled Escalation: During a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu, during which they discussed the situation in Ukraine, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed his conviction that the Ukrainian authorities are constantly inclined towards further uncontrolled escalation, according to Sputnik news agency.
Dirty Bomb: Shoigu also expressed his fears of possible Ukrainian provocations, including a "dirty bomb" about a low-yield nuclear weapon or the possibility of striking a water dam in Kherson that could flood the entire city, to blame Russian forces.
Shoigu warned in separate contacts with his British counterpart Ben Wallace and Turkish Hulusi Akar against any Ukrainian provocation, also warning of the "dirty bomb."
Is It True? These statements came after RIA Novosti quoted sources in various countries, including Ukraine, "that there are indications that Kyiv is preparing a provocation through the use of a dirty bomb or low-yield nuclear weapons."
Since the launch of the Russian war on Ukrainian territory on February 24, fears have grown that the conflict will escalate beyond imagination, especially after Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at the possibility of using an atomic bomb in a televised address on September 21.
Putin confirmed that he was ready to use "all means" in his arsenal against the West if any threat to his country's security and territory touched, a sign that many Western experts interpreted as referring to tactical nuclear weapons.