Expert: Russia may use a “dirty bomb” to cover the escape of occupants from Kherson
Russian occupation forces can theoretically use a “dirty bomb” to cover their escape from Kherson.
This opinion was expressed by analyst of the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NISS) Oleksiy Yizhak on the air of Radio NV.
According to the expert, the situation around this Russian fake is quite strange, since no other threat of the Kremlin has ever sounded so persistently and so “media ridiculous”.
Oleksiy Yizhak added that no one in the world believes in this fake, but Moscow continues to promote it, which makes us look more closely at the motives of the Russian Federation.
According to the expert, there are probably two aspects in these statements of the Kremlin. The first is related to the Thunder-2022 nuclear exercises conducted by the Russian Federation. Their meaning is not only to check the state of weapons, but also to check the functioning of the combat control system, from warning of an attack to a strike.
According to Oleksiy Yizhak, something could go “wrong” during these exercises.
– The first aspect is that there is something wrong in Russia with the actual blackmail with nuclear weapons. And the exercise showed them that they cannot reliably do what they have been threatening for several months: tactical nuclear weapons and so on. They have certain problems,” the expert said.
He suggested that the Kremlin realized that they could not use real nuclear weapons, and therefore decided to promote the narrative about the “dirty bomb”.
The second aspect may relate to the escape of the occupiers from Kherson. Oleksiy Yizhak suggests that in this case, the aggressor may use a “dirty bomb” to justify and cover the withdrawal of troops. And the spent nuclear fuel for it can be taken from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently occupied.
At the same time, Russia will try to accuse Ukraine of using a “dirty bomb”.
– Another idea that may be behind this is to cover the escape from Kherson. Kherson is close to Zaporizhzhya NPP. And if they lose the battle for Kherson and are forced to flee, they can use such a “dirty bomb” and say that they did not lose, but were forced “to save the lives of their own troops and civilians” to withdraw everyone from Kherson and leave there themselves. And at the same time, they may blow up the dam to create an environmental disaster and say that it is Ukrainians,” the expert stressed.
He reminded that “dirty bomb” is a hypothetical radiological weapon. There is only a theoretical possibility of its use. The idea is that it is possible to use conventional explosives to spray or scatter a significant amount of radioactive material, which is usually spent nuclear fuel.
At the same time, Yizhak clarified that there are means of deterrence. Thus, the United States has already warned that they will not distinguish between radiation out of control: whether it is a nuclear weapon or a “dirty bomb”.
– There will be only one result. It is that military aid, that is, the provision of weapons and equipment to Ukraine, will turn into military assistance, that is, the direct participation of powerful allies in the war on the territory of Ukraine. Russia understands this, and we can hope that it will not dare to do this,” the expert concluded.
Recently, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called the defense ministers of the United States, Great Britain, France and Turkey. During the conversations, he claimed that Ukraine was allegedly preparing to use a “dirty bomb”.
The US, UK and France in a joint statement rejected these fake allegations, calling them a pretext for escalation in the war.
And IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi agreed to send experts to Ukraine to check the facilities where, according to Russia, the development of a “dirty bomb” is allegedly taking place.
Source: Radio NV
