Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu subsequently called his French and Turkish colleagues, to tell them that Ukraine could use a “dirty bomb”. Later in the day, it was reported that he had also held talks with his British counterpart Ben Wallace and US Minister Lloyd Austin.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed the situation in Ukraine with his French counterpart by telephone Sebastiano Lecornoafter having transmitted to his French colleague information on a possible provocation by Ukraine using a “dirty bomb”.
The state agency TASS reported, citing a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry. “Interfax” also reports that it was held similar conversation with Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar.
The phone calls took place today, 23 October. The parties discussed the situation in Ukraine, which “there is a constant trend towards further uncontrolled escalation“.
This is the first confirmation message from Russian agencies since the start of the war activities of senior Russian officials. So far, telephone talks with representatives of Western countries, according to Russian reports about them, have always been held on the initiative of foreign leaders, as Russian agencies also point out.
Later in the day, TASS also reported a conversation on the same topic to Sergei Shoigu with his British colleague Ben Wallace and the American Lloyd Austin.
The information provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense are literally the sameas in previous talks with the French and Turkish ministers.
Just two days ago Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin held a conversation, the second between Russian and US military leaders since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The last time Shoigu and Austin spoke was in May. Two days ago, Shoigu and Austin were reported to have “discussed urgent international security issues, including the situation in Ukraine”.
This morning, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that Ukraine was planning to detonate a “dirty bomb” on its territory: a conventional ammunition that would release radioactive substances into the atmosphere or a low-yield nuclear device. News related to “reliable sources in various countries, including Ukraine“. Further information on sources is not indicated.
According to RIA Novosti, this would be a provocation, aimed at accusing Russia of using weapons of mass destruction.
This week, experts from the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warned him multiple times Moscow is informally preparing the ground for false flag provocations.
In particular, ISW hypothesized this the Russian army can blow up the Kakhovka dam“ to the hydroelectric power plant in order to cover their retreat from the right bank of the Dnieper and delaying the Ukrainian counter-offensive.
According to them, the Kremlin could try to use this provocation to divert attention from the news on the matter the third humiliating retreat of Russian troops.
On Tuesday, the occupation authorities of The Kherson region has announced the evacuation to the inhabitants of different municipalities, including the city of Kherson, on the left bank of the Dnieper River. The measure was initially announced as protect the population from danger so that the waters of the Kakhovka Dam do not flood the region. According to the Russian authorities, this would be a consequence of the Ukrainian sabotage.
Just a few days later, according to the interim governor of the region, Volodymyr Saldo evacuation began to become necessary due to frequent strikes by the Ukrainian armed forces.
