ANALYSIS – Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a master at disinformation and manipulation. Since well before its invasion of Ukraine in February, Russia has been trying to sow confusion by accusing Kyiv of planned “provocations,” unsubstantiated claims that could then provide cover for Russian ‘false flag’ operations.
The most recent example is Russia’s claim that Ukraine plans a radioactive ‘dirty bomb’ attack on its own territory. (RELATED: Putin Pushing Russian Elite to Decisive Moment)
A ‘dirty bomb,’ or ‘poor man’s nuke,’ contains radioactive material, such as uranium, which is scattered through the air when detonated by conventional explosives.
It doesn’t need highly refined radioactive material, as used in a nuclear weapon, but can use radioactive materials from hospitals, nuclear power stations or research labs.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the wild allegation that Ukraine was preparing to launch a dirty bomb over the weekend in calls to his British, French, Turkish and U.S. counterparts.
Britain, France and the United States rejected the unsubstantiated claim out of hand as “transparently false.”
Russia has also made its claims to the United Nations Security Council and said using a dirty bomb would be an act of nuclear terrorism. (RELATED: Iran Puts Its Latest Weapons Closer to NATO in Russian-Occupied Ukraine, What Will Israel Do?)
This is seen by NATO as a possible prelude to Putin using one himself to then blame on Ukraine.
Since radioactive materials from a nuke plant could easily be used for a ‘dirty bomb,’ Russian military activity at Ukraine’s nuclear power plant it occupies thus adds concern that this is a real threat. (RELATED: UN Warns of Potential ‘Catastrophe’ From Russian Control of Ukraine’s Largest Nuke Plant)
AP reported that “Ukraine’s nuclear energy operator said Tuesday that Russian forces were performing secret work at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, activity that could shed light on Russia’s claims that the Ukrainian military is preparing a ‘provocation’ involving a radioactive device.”
As Bloomberg reports:
With Russia losing significant ground in the northeast and southeast of Ukraine in recent weeks, assessments that Putin may be considering a nuclear attack on Ukraine are growing in the West. Others contend this dirty-bomb brinkmanship is the latest Kremlin effort to scare off NATO when it comes to advanced military aid to Ukraine.
But Kyiv authorities claimed Tuesday that they’ve seen suspicious activity by Russian forces at Ukraine’s occupied nuclear power plant that could indicate the gambit is real. Such games of chicken have been war-gamed for decades, and they have always had the capacity to spiral out of control.
While dirty bombs are not particularly deadly or effective weapons, their ability to cause mass panic makes them the ultimate ‘weapon of mass disruption.’
Not all are convinced this is a Russian prelude to a dirty bomb false flag. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said: “The Kremlin is unlikely to be preparing an imminent false-flag dirty bomb attack.”
However, it added that Russia’s defense minister “likely sought to slow or suspend Western military aid to Ukraine and possibly weaken the Nato alliance in scare-mongering calls.”
Meanwhile, Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he was still uncertain if Russia was trying to put together a “false flag operation” to detonate a dirty bomb and blame the Ukrainians.
But Biden’s comments showed that the U.S. is far less concerned about a dirty bomb than about Russia using a battlefield nuclear weapon.
As The New York Times reported:
Biden renewed his warning to … Putin that it would be an “incredibly serious mistake” to use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine, reflecting the increasingly urgent concern in Washington and among Western allies that Russia may be searching for a pretext to unleash such a weapon.
The NYT added:
American intelligence officials are divided about Russia’s intentions. Some believe that the repeated threats to use nuclear weapons are a bluff; others say they are part of a Russian military doctrine called “escalate to de-escalate,” in which a small nuclear device is set off to warn adversaries to stay away.
ALD
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Pooton is headed in all the right directions – to enrage & bankrupt his nation . The only force maintaining composure is the oligarchs who put him in office – and most of them are not so happy campers anymore . Not a real good atmosphere for Pooton- to be asking favors of anyone – much less the Russian People .
Nuclear war? It’s not a matter of whether Putin will drop a nuclear bomb. It’s weather who makes the first mistake and both sides pull the trigger. Remember what MAD is?
Be careful jpostilng articles like this
The biden family will get upset if Russia stops teh Biden monthly pay check.
Enough of the phony soft talk, it’s time to tell Putin that if he uses a dirty bomb, or any kind of nuclear weapon, that we will destroy him and his country. Be blunt and to the point. Maybe then the big shots in Russia will get rid of him to save their own butts.