Zelensky dismisses Russian claims Ukraine could use a dirty nuclear bomb

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Russian claims that Ukraine could use a “dirty nuclear bomb” after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held separate phone calls with counterparts from top NATO member states on Sunday, October 23. In his nightly address on Sunday, Zelensky said the actions of Russian forces in Ukraine showed the world that Russia was “the source of everything dirty” in their countries’ conflict.

“It was Russia who blackmailed with the radiation disaster at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant,” Zelensky said. “Those are Russian troops who mined the dam of the Kakhovka Hydro Power Plant and are blackmailing with their detonation.” He said that there was, “only one subject who can use nuclear weapons in our part of Europe, and this subject is the one who ordered comrade Shoigu to call somewhere.”

“If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means...[that] Russia has already prepared all this,” Zelensky said. “If Russia has prepared another round of raising stakes and another escalating step, it must see now, preemptively and before any new 'dirt,' that the world will not swallow that.” Shoigu spoke with counterparts from Turkey, France, the UK and the US on Sunday. The Russian foreign ministry said Shoigu discussed concerns that Ukraine could use a dirty bomb. Both the US and UK rejected these concerns as justification for further escalation.

Credit: Volodymyr Zelensky via Storyful