Putin: We're aware of Ukraine's 'dirty bomb' plans

Russia's President Vladimir Putin repeats claims made by several Russian officials that Ukraine plans to deploy a "dirty bomb" during Moscow's current military operation in the ex-Soviet republic.

"We are aware of Ukraine's plans to use a dirty bomb," Russia's Interfax news agency cited the head of state as telling a meeting of the intelligence chiefs of several former Soviet countries in Moscow on Wednesday.

Putin added that the risk of conflict in the world and the region was high and that security had to be heightened around key infrastructural sites.

Also on Wednesday, the chief executive oversaw exercises featuring Russia's strategic nuclear forces.

"The tasks envisaged during the training of the strategic deterrence forces were completed in full, all missiles reached their targets," a Kremlin statement said.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told the Russian president that the exercises were practicing "delivering a massive nuclear strike by strategic offensive forces in response to an enemy nuclear strike."

The country's Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov told Putin the exercise involved intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines, and Tupolev strategic bomber planes.

Throughout recent weeks, Russian officials have repeatedly accused Ukraine of planning to use the bomb.

Dirty bombs, which are also known as Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD), are not as potent as nuclear weapons, but can disperse radioactive materials across the targeted areas upon explosion.

Most recently, Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia raised the alert in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the world body's Security Council on Monday.

He said Ukraine's pending plans to deploy the bomb during the war, amounted to an act of "nuclear terrorism," urging the UN to help avert the prospect.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to Russia's "dirty bomb" allegations by reciprocally accusing Moscow of planning such an attack so it can blame it on Kiev.

Ukraine-allied Western countries have also rejected Russia's allegation, claiming that Moscow is trying to enable the escalation of the conflict.

MG