Ukraine slams Russia’s ‘dirty bomb’ claims as ‘dangerous’ lies

Ukraine slammed Russia on Sunday for alleging Kiev was planning to use a radioactive bomb in its own territory, calling the claims "dangerous" lies and prompting Western allies to warn Moscow against using any pretext for escalating the conflict.

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with his British, French and Turkish counterparts to convey "concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a 'dirty bomb'," Moscow said, referring to a weapon that uses traditional explosives to scatter radioactive material.

But Ukraine and its Western allies swiftly dismissed Moscow's allegations, with the United States, Britain and France issuing a joint statement on Sunday rejecting Russia's "transparently false" claims.

Moscow said Shoigu had also spoken to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, but the Pentagon said Austin had "rejected any pretext for Russian escalation" in the phone call.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Sunday that he spoke to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to "reject Russia's false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory".

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a united international response.

"If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this," Zelensky said in a video address on social media.

"I believe that now the world should react as harshly as possible."

Earlier on Sunday, Kuleba had denounced Moscow's claims as "absurd" and "dangerous".

"Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves," he added.

A British defence ministry statement said Defence Secretary Ben Wallace had "refuted these claims and...