Putin admits no evidence of Ukraine's 'dirty bomb' plans
Vladimir Putin, Russian President (Getty Images)
Russia has no evidence that Ukraine is allegedly attempting to develop a "dirty" nuclear bomb. Once again, the claims made by Russian officials have proven to be false, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Putin was asked to comment on Russian media reports suggesting that Ukraine might use a "dirty bomb" against Russia.
In response, the Kremlin leader said that the use of such a bomb "would be a colossal mistake" on the part of the Ukrainian authorities.
The president warned that Russia "always responds to any threats against it in a mirror-like manner."
"Our response will be very harsh and, most likely, catastrophic — both for the so-called neo-Nazi regime and, unfortunately, for Ukraine itself. I hope it never comes to that," he added.
When asked whether there was any evidence that Ukraine might be working on a "dirty bomb," Putin replied:
"No, we have no confirmation of such intentions. But we assume that someone with a sick imagination could come up with such ideas."
False claims by Russian officials
Just this past February, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev claimed that Ukraine might use a "dirty bomb" to "disrupt a settlement and prolong the war."
Earlier, in June 2024, the head of the Chemical, Biological, and Nuclear Defense Troops of the Russian Armed Forces, Igor Kirillov, alleged that "radio-chemical substances" were being brought into Ukraine, supposedly to create a "dirty bomb."
Back in 2022, Russia had already been fueling hysteria with claims that Ukraine was allegedly producing such a bomb.
