Vladimir Putin raised the specter of a “dirty bomb” incident at a Russian-occupied nuclear power plant while contemplating retaliation for an apparent Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow.
“Ukrainian citizens need to understand that there are other threats as well, for instance, attempts to disrupt the operation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant or use ‘dirty’ devices related to nuclear technology,” Putin said Tuesday. “We have talked about this more than once. We know what they have in mind.
Putin’s allegation also comes on the heels of a dueling accusation by Ukrainian intelligence officials, who claimed Friday that Russia was planning to simulate a nuclear crisis at the power plant in an attempt to induce international authorities to demand a ceasefire before Ukraine’s long-expected counteroffensive. Whereas Shoigu’s accusation was widely perceived as a sign of a potential new escalation from Russia, the Ukrainian claim did not provoke an analogous outpouring of suspicion.
“There should be no attack, of any kind, from or against the plant; in particular, targeting the reactors, spent-fuel storage, other critical infrastructure, or personnel,” IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi told the Security Council."ZNPP should not be used as storage or a base for heavy weapons — for example, multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems and munitions and tanks or military personnel that could be used for an attack from a plant.
Ukraine’s envoy pledged that"we will never resort to any action that could lead to a nuclear incident” but stopped short of renouncing all efforts to retake the plant.
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