A provocation is being prepared to accuse Russia of using nuclear weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry is confidentThe work on Ukraine's creation of a "dirty bomb", or a low-power nuclear munition, is coming to an end.
This was announced on October 24 by the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Igor Kirillov. According to him, the Russian Defense Ministry has data that Ukraine is planning a provocation related to the detonation of such ammunition. Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov held talks with his colleagues from the United States and Great Britain, discussing the current situation. Experts note that Russia may be blamed for the explosion of the "dirty bomb", which will lead to further escalation of the conflict. Also on October 24, the Russian army repelled enemy attacks in all directions, and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin held the first meeting of the coordinating council under the government to ensure the needs of the military special operation.
The bomb is almost ready
The Russian Defense Ministry has data on Ukraine's planning of a provocation related to the detonation of a "dirty bomb", or a low-power nuclear munition. The work on the creation of ammunition by Ukraine is coming to an end, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said at a briefing on October 24. According to the information available in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, two organizations of Ukraine have specific instructions for the creation of the so-called "dirty bomb".
"The purpose of the provocation is to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction in the Ukrainian theater of operations, and thereby launch a powerful anti—Russian campaign in the world aimed at undermining confidence in Moscow," Igor Kirillov said.
Igor Kirillov said that Kiev plans to disguise the detonation of a bomb as an abnormal operation of a low-power Russian nuclear munition, in which highly enriched uranium is used as a charge.
The ingress of radioactive isotopes in the air will be detected by sensors of the International Monitoring System in Europe, which will allow the Kremlin to be accused of using weapons of mass destruction.
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Igor Kirillov added that Moscow is aware of contacts between the office of the President of Ukraine and representatives of the United Kingdom on the possible acquisition of technologies necessary for the creation of nuclear weapons.
Also on October 24, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Army General Valery Gerasimov, held telephone talks with the Chief of the British Defense Staff, Admiral Anthony Raydakin, and with the head of the US Chiefs of Staff Committee, Mark Milli. They discussed the situation with the possible use of a "dirty bomb" by Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
A day earlier, the head of the Russian military department, Sergei Shoigu, held telephone conversations with the defense ministers of Great Britain, the United States, France and Turkey. He conveyed to his colleagues the concern about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a "dirty bomb".
Later on the same day, the State Department issued a statement by the foreign ministries of the United Kingdom, the United States and France, which states that these countries do not consider the warnings of the Russian side about the use of such ammunition by Kiev to be justified.
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NATO's distrust of information about the "dirty bomb" created by Kiev does not mean that the threat ceases to exist, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on October 24.
— The threat is obvious. This information was brought to the attention of the interlocutors by the Russian Defense Minister, then it's up to them to believe or not to believe," he said.
According to former UN Deputy Secretary-General Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Ukraine, preparing for the use of a "dirty bomb", pursues several goals.
— The first is to interrupt our operation, — the expert believes. — They think that it is unlikely to be able to continue in this region in conditions of nuclear contamination. And the second is for Russia to be accused of using a nuclear bomb. And there can be anything behind these accusations. Retired American generals have previously said that if Russia uses nuclear weapons, they, too, may be involved in the conflict.
And another goal is to use provocation for the possible involvement of NATO countries in the conflict, the diplomat noted.
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— It is quite difficult to make further predictions, but this case is clearly dangerous, — he explained. — The fact that the British and French deny it does not mean that there is no threat. It is no coincidence that our Defense Minister and the Chief of the General Staff paid so much attention to this issue.
Degree of frostbite
To create a "dirty bomb", or a low-power nuclear munition, Ukraine has the necessary production base and scientific potential, Igor Kirilov said.
In particular, there are enterprises that can provide the necessary materials — these are three operating nuclear power plants and the decommissioned Chernobyl NPP.
More than 50 thousand cubic meters of radioactive waste can be accommodated at the newly created Vector radioactive waste processing enterprise, at the Pridneprovsky Chemical Plant, at the Buryakovka, Podlesny, Rossokha radioactive waste disposal sites. The Vostochny Mining and Processing Plant is still mining uranium ore.
Ukraine has an appropriate scientific base. For example, scientists from the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology took part in the Soviet nuclear program.
Photo: TASS/Peter Sivkov
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If you do not know the power of the ammunition and the type of material being loaded, it is extremely difficult to predict something, Oleg Zheltonozhko, an expert in the field of radiation, chemical and biological safety, told Izvestia.
— In principle, it is possible to make any artillery munition a "dirty bomb", — he noted. — The same propaganda shells can be loaded not with leaflets, but with radioactive components. It all depends on the degree of frostbite of the person who uses it. This can be compared to the manufacture of chemical ammunition. The degree of infection depends on the power of the explosion and the substances used. Earlier there were reports about the presence of drones with devices for spraying chemicals. They can be filled with a radioactive solution, and there will be contamination of the area. You can simply drain the radioactive components into the river, and there will be contamination of drinking water downstream. It all depends on the imagination of the one who is going to apply it. There can be no physical or other restrictions here, only moral ones.
Increase efficiency
On October 24, the Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin held the first meeting of the coordinating council under the government to meet the needs of the SVO.
"Our task is to build effective cooperation between the healthcare system, industry, construction, transport and other spheres and to increase coordination of federal executive authorities, regions and special services," the head of government noted.
The Council will deal with the entire range of issues related to ensuring the needs of the Armed Forces.
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— Among them — the definition of targets for the supply of weapons, equipment, budget financing, pricing, selection of suppliers, contractors, creation of specialized infrastructure, — the head of the Cabinet of Ministers listed.
The council includes deputy prime ministers in charge of specialized areas, heads of law enforcement agencies and the economic bloc.
— The army and Navy, all our soldiers who are on the front line, in the rear units, at the training grounds, must be equipped with everything necessary in the shortest possible time, — said the head of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Attacks are repelled
On October 24, the Russian armed forces continued to restrain the onslaught of Ukrainian formations.
— In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy, with forces of up to three motorized infantry companies, attempted to attack the positions of Russian troops in the areas of the settlements of Pershotravnevoye, Orlyanka and Berestove, Kharkiv region. All attacks are repelled. As a result of the fire damage, the AFU units were thrown back to their original positions. More than 25 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, five armored personnel carriers and four pickups were destroyed, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
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In the Krasnolimansky direction, the units of the VFU, with up to two mechanized companies, sought to wedge themselves into the defense of the Russian troops. The enemy was stopped and thrown back to the starting line. More than 20 servicemen and two infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed.
In the South Donetsk direction, the enemy attacked the positions of Russian troops with the forces of two company tactical groups. The attack is repelled. 25 servicemen, a tank, three infantry fighting vehicles and two cars were destroyed.
In the Mykolaiv-Krivoy Rog direction, the enemy also made unsuccessful attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops by the forces of a battalion tactical group. As a result of the fire damage and concentrated strikes, more than 80 servicemen, 11 armored combat vehicles and 15 vehicles were destroyed, the Defense Ministry said.
During the day, the operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery of Russia hit four control points of the VFU, an ammunition depot, 72 artillery units in firing positions and 174 areas of concentration of troops.
During the day, the air defense forces shot down three UAVs, 21 shells of HIMARS and Alder multiple rocket launchers in the areas of Lisichansk in the LPR and Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson region.
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— In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 325 aircraft, 162 helicopters, 2,326 unmanned aerial vehicles, 383 anti—aircraft missile systems, 6020 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 874 multiple rocket launcher combat vehicles, 3,521 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 6,741 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, - Igor listed Konashenkov.
Brought out from under fire
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles.
The commander of the anti-aircraft missile division, Captain Denis Lukyanov, and his comrades covered the Russian units from an enemy attack from the air. Ukrainian units attacked using attack drones and MLRS. Denis's division destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle and five HIMARS MLRS shells.
"Captain Lukyanov's bold and decisive actions, as well as the high professionalism of his subordinates, prevented air strikes on Russian positions," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The unit of Senior Ensign Herman Trapitsyn delivered ammunition and food to the paratroopers on the contact line. The enemy opened mortar fire on a car convoy. Herman took the car out of the fire to a safe place and together with two colleagues moved boxes of ammunition to the unit leading the fire.
Thanks to Herman's courage and determination, the airborne units received the necessary ammunition, the department said.
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The column of Corporal Alexander Gordeev ensured the safety of the movement of the battalion tactical group. The militants fired at the column to disrupt the offensive of our troops. With return fire, Alexander destroyed four infantry vehicles and caused significant damage to enemy manpower. Also, the crew of Gordeev's combat vehicle destroyed the Ural with Ukrainian militants.
Alexander's combat vehicle was hit by return fire. He pulled the wounded colleagues out of it, moved them to shelter and provided them with first aid.
As a result of the battle, the militant group was completely eliminated.
— The courage, determination and bravery shown by Alexander allowed the column to arrive in a given area in a timely manner and without losses, — the Ministry of Defense noted.
Sergeant Stanislav Fatkin provided a stable connection of his unit with the higher headquarters. The militants have been shelling the division's positions for several days and using jamming devices.
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Stanislav, despite the difficult electronic situation, was able to organize uninterrupted communication, which allowed him to command units. As a result, the equipment was damaged due to the shelling. Stanislav promptly repaired it, restored communication and continued to carry out the combat mission.
The professional actions of Sergeant Fatkin allowed the unit to get out from under heavy fire, adjust the fire of our artillery and strike back at the positions of the militants, the department said.
Andrey Fedorov
Roman Kretsul
Bogdan Stepovoy
