Vladimir Putin reiterates ‘dirty bomb’ claim, Russia and NATO conduct nuclear drills

Kyiv. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia’s military conducted annual nuclear drills on Wednesday. Simultaneously, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated the claim of Ukraine’s plan to use radioactive ‘dirty bombs’. At the same time, the Russian army on Wednesday attacked more than 40 villages of Ukraine. Putin oversaw the exercises of his strategic nuclear force. These exercises include testing of ballistic and cruise missiles.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Putin that the practice of carrying out a “major nuclear attack” in the event of a nuclear attack on Russia was practiced. Meanwhile, NATO is conducting its annual nuclear drills in northwestern Europe, which it has long planned.

Putin himself accused of ‘dirty bomb’ for the first time
Putin said on Russian television, without evidence, that Ukraine plans to “use the so-called dirty bomb as a provocation”. At the same time, he argued that the US is using Ukraine against Russia and its regional allies and has turned Ukraine into a “testing ground for military-biological experiments”. This is the first time that Putin himself has leveled allegations of a ‘dirty bomb’, which has not been confirmed yet. On the other hand, Ukraine and its Western allies rejected these claims and argued that Russia, which is facing shocks in the war zone, may try to detonate the ‘dirty bomb’ itself. Shoigu on Wednesday conveyed to his counterparts in India and China Moscow’s concern over the “possible use of dirty bombs by Ukraine”.

Also read: Russia has so far attacked Ukraine with 400 Iranian drones, Zelensky claims, America warns

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Russia’s unconfirmed statements “absurd”. He told reporters at the NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday that NATO allies reject the grossly false accusations and that Russia should not take false cover to advance the war. Despite Western denials, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Moscow had information about preparations in Ukraine for such a terrorist attack. At the same time, the Slovenian government said that Russia was using a 2010 photo to spread misinformation about the ‘dirty bomb’.

Putin hints at talks with Kyiv
In addition to reiterating his unconfirmed claims, Putin has indicated that he is open to talks with Kyiv. The latest message in this regard came through Guinea Basau President Umaro Mukhtar Sissoko Embalo who had gone to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The leader of Guinea-Bassau said that I met President Putin in Russia, who asked me to convey to you something which he thinks is very important. He wants direct talks between the two countries.

Zelensky told a news conference that a pre-condition for talks would be for Russia to recognize Ukrainian territory, borders and sovereignty. The two countries have limited cooperation on some issues such as the exchange of prisoners of war. Andrey Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said on Wednesday that the Russian army had handed over 10 prisoners of war to Ukraine. He has also returned the body of a US volunteer who fought the war for Ukraine. America has also confirmed this.

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Tags: nato, Nuclear weapon, Russia