UN nuclear watchdog begins investigation of alleged ‘dirty bomb’ in Ukraine

Mike Brest

November 01, 12:06 PM November 01, 12:08 PM

The United Nations's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has begun its investigation into Russia’s allegation that Ukraine is producing a “dirty bomb” to use in the war.

Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Monday that the inspections of two sites “had begun” and “would soon complete,” according to a readout from the agency. Ukraine had requested the independent inspection following Russia’s claims of a “dirty bomb,” which was quickly repudiated by Western leaders.

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Western leaders took Russia’s accusation, which came from Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Kremlin leaders, seriously as Russia has a history of accusing its adversaries of actions or plans it is about to take itself.

Similarly, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg noted last week that “Russia often accuses others of what they intend to do themselves. We have seen this pattern before,” and he also added that “Russia must not use false pretexts for further escalation. The world is watching closely.”

A dirty bomb is a conventional bomb that includes radioactive, biological, or chemical agents that disperse upon detonation, creating a much larger impact radius.

"A dirty bomb is a bomb where you use conventional explosives to expand and scatter and to release agents which can cause more widespread and long-standing injuries beyond just the explosive blast," National Security Council coordinator John Kirby told reporters last week. "In the case of this particular allegation, it's really about radioactive material."

The IAEA said in a statement last week that it previously did an inspection of “one of the two locations a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activities or materials were found there.”