WASHINGTON – Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that the Pentagon has no evidence that either Ukraine or Russia has any intention of detonating a radioactive “dirty bomb,” and said he was “tamping down dangerous talk” of anyone using such a weapon.
President Vladimir Putin repeated Russia’s unfounded claims on Thursday that Ukraine was preparing to explode a dirty bomb on its territory and blame Moscow. Ukraine and the West say that the claims are disinformation that could be used as a pretext by the Kremlin to escalate the war, possibly with a tactical nuclear weapon.
“We have not seen anything to indicate that Putin has made a decision to use a dirty bomb, nor have we seen any indications that the Ukrainians are planning such a thing,” Mr Austin told reporters at the Pentagon.
Mr Austin said he was “certainly concerned about escalation” in the wake of Russia’s recent claims about a dirty bomb attack.
“That’s why we believe that it’s important to communicate with our allies and partners, and also with our adversaries,” he said, noting that as long as the United States was able to convey “what’s important to us, then I think we have an opportunity to manage escalation”.
The need to prevent nuclear war has hung over White House decision-making since before Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Last Friday, Mr Austin initiated a phone call with Mr Sergei Shoigu, his Russian counterpart, the first time the two men had spoken since May.
The conversation was meant to identify the red lines that could potentially provoke Russia to launch a nuclear attack on Ukraine and to clarify for the Biden administration why Mr Putin has been raising the prospect of a nuclear strike in Ukraine.
US Defence Department officials were surprised when, two days later, Mr Shoigu requested another call, at 7.30am on Sunday, in which he accused Ukraine of preparing to use a dirty bomb.
The United States has also condemned Moscow’s recent spate of attacks using long-range missiles and exploding Iranian-made drones to cripple the electrical and heating infrastructure in Ukrainian cities and demoralize the population.
Ukraine has pleaded with the West for more advanced air defense systems, and Austin said Thursday that the United States could begin training Ukrainian troops to use two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, known as NASAMS, as soon as next month.
The systems – each equipped with radar-guided missiles powerful enough to take down fighter jets, combat drones and cruise missiles – would provide short- to medium-range coverage over about 18 to 30 miles (29-40km). NYTIMES
