In a phone call on Sunday, Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, warned his French counterpart that the situation in Ukraine was fast deteriorating and headed for “uncontrolled escalation.”
Without offering any evidence to back up the claim that Ukraine might use such a weapon, Shoigu claimed Moscow was worried that Ukraine might deploy a “dirty bomb” in the conflict during a phone chat with French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu that was made public by the Russian side.
The rapidly deteriorating situation in Ukraine was discussed, according to a summary of the discussion provided by the defense ministry. “It is moving in the direction of further unchecked escalation.”
A “dirty bomb” combines radioactive material with regular explosives.
Regarding its statement, the defense ministry did not offer any other details.
