The Kremlin continues to insist that Ukraine plans detonate a 'dirty bomb' on its own territory and blame Moscow. Ukraine says Russia's accusation is a sign that Moscow is planning such an attack and preparing to shift the blame to Ukraine.
A mock 'dirty bomb' is detonated during an exercise by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 16, 2007. Moscow has recently and repeatedly claimed Ukraine is planning to detonate such a device on its own territory.
The most immediate danger from a dirty bomb is the explosion, though this is not its true purpose. Nor is the short-term risk from exposure to the scattered radioactive material — experts say that danger would probably be limited, since most people in an affected area would be able to escape before experiencing lethal doses of radiation.
Enough radioactive cobalt could, if blasted apart in New York City, contaminate and potentially make the island of Manhattan uninhabitable, he said.So far, Western countries have dismissed Russia's allegations. The U.S., U.K. and France in a joint statement on Sunday rejected them as "transparently false."
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu sent his claims about Ukraine to his counterparts in the West.