Russia has claimed without presenting proof that Ukraine is preparing to create a nuclear disaster on its soil in order to place the blame on Moscow before a crucial United Nations summit.
According to a statement released by the Russian defence ministry on Sunday, radioactive materials have been brought to Ukraine from an unnamed European nation and Kyiv is preparing a significant “provocation.”
“The aim of the provocation is to accuse Russia’s army of allegedly carrying out indiscriminate strikes on hazardous radioactive facilities in Ukraine, leading to the leakage of radioactive substances and contamination of the area,” it said.
Russia has accused Kiev of organising “false flag” operations using unconventional weapons and radioactive or biological materials on several occasions.
Such an attack has not occurred.
Such charges have been denounced by Ukraine and its allies as cynical attempts to spread misinformation, and they have charged Russia with arranging incidents itself in an effort to place the blame on Ukraine.
Moscow’s accusations were made at the same time as Ukrainian authorities encouraged American legislators to pressure US President Joe Biden’s administration to send F-16 fighter jets, arguing that the aircraft would improve Ukraine’s ability to target Russian missile systems.
On both sides of the Atlantic, support is growing for supplying Ukraine with modern, NATO-compliant jet fighters.
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