Russia accuses Ukraine of planning to use a “dirty bomb”. Kyiv vehemently denies this and invites the International Atomic Energy Agency to investigate the allegations. The IAEA inspectors are now commenting.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has so far found no evidence of “undeclared nuclear activities” in Ukraine after allegations by Russia about alleged plans by Kiev for a “dirty bomb”. The technical and scientific evaluation of the results so far yielded “no indication of undeclared nuclear activities and materials” at three locations in Ukraine, explained IAEA boss Rafael Grossi. “We will report on the results of the environmental samples as soon as possible.”
The IAEA inspections at a nuclear research institute in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, a mining facility in the central city of Zhovti Vody and a factory in Dnipro followed requests from Ukraine. “In the past few days, the inspectors have been able to carry out all activities that the IAEA had planned and have been given unrestricted access to the sites,” the IAEA said.
Moscow had previously accused Kyiv of working on a so-called dirty bomb at two locations. Later, Russia named a third place. The Ukrainian government rejects the allegations and warns that Russia itself could plan to use such a weapon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously called on the IAEA to carry out inspections in Ukraine “as soon as possible”. A so-called dirty bomb is a conventional explosive device that releases radioactive, chemical or biological material when it detonates.
