Russian Defense Ministry on October 24, said, it has information that Ukraine is planning a provocation related to the detonation of a 'dirty bomb'. Russia also said at a closed-door meeting with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that using a 'dirty bomb' would be an act of terrorism.
The allegation has been dismissed by Kyiv and its Western allies. Responding to a question on whether Russia was preparing to deploy a dirty bomb or a nuclear weapon, Joe Biden said, “I'm not guaranteeing you that it's a false-flag operation yet; I don't know. But it would be a serious, serious mistake.”
“Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. We are calling that false, false allegations by Russia,” Biden further added. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Reuters that Moscow wanted to prompt an active response from the international community, with regards to the 'dirty bomb. Ukraine and its Western allies on the other hand have said that Moscow is using this as a pretext for a further escalation in the war.
So, what exactly is a dirty bomb?
A dirty bomb contains radioactive material like uranium-- it is scattered through air when a conventional explosive containing it detonates. A dirty bomb will not cause a nuclear chain reaction, Wolfgang Richter, a retired officer and expert on security at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs told DW. Also, a dirty bomb will not create extremely dangerous radiation or heat and waves of pressure, like a nuclear bomb would.
The bomb could be made from radioactive material from hospitals, nuclear power stations or research laboratories.
Dirty bombs are easier and cheaper to make than nuclear weapons and can easily be carried in the back of a vehicle.
Dirty bombs can be used by terrorists to create havoc among civilians. The extent to which a dirt bomb can cause destruction depends on its blast radius and wind conditions. For example, if the particles are too fine or are released into strong winds, they will scatter too widely, causing more harm. While a dirty bomb with a high amount of radioactive material could cause cancer, a smaller bomb will expose people to radiation similar to the amount received during dental X-rays, according to a CNN report.
--With PTI inputs
