Russia Warns of ‘Dirty Bomb’ False Flag Plot in Series of Phone Calls With Western Leaders

A view shows buildings damaged during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 19, 2022. Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

Russia’s Ministry of Defense on Sunday warned that Ukrainian forces would use a “dirty bomb” and blame Moscow in a significant escalation of the monthslong conflict, which Ukraine has denied.

In phone calls with French, UK, and Turkish counterparts Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned about “about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a ‘dirty bomb,’” according to the Russian Ministry of Defense in a statement.  Later, the ministry warned about a possible Ukrainian false-flag attack on its own civilians to “accuse Russia of killing the civilians.”