On Sunday, Kyiv expressed fears of a possible “false flag” attack by Russia after Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the same day in phone calls with his counterparts in France, Turkey and Britain that Ukraine would prepare an attack on its own “dirty bomb”. territory to blame Russia, and Moscow usually blames the other party when it intends to carry out any shameful actions, writes the Ukrainian news agency Unian, quoted by Agerpres.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday conveyed to his French, Turkish and British counterparts Sébastien Lecorne, Hulusi Akar and Ben Wallace, respectively, Moscow’s concern over possible provocations in Ukraine using a “dirty bomb”, a device containing radioactive elements.

A brief statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Shoigu held separate telephone talks with his colleagues this Sunday.

“The situation in Ukraine, which has a constant tendency towards a new uncontrolled escalation, was discussed,” the Russian military department clarified the conversation with Lecorne.

Shoigu also expressed “concern about possible Ukrainian provocations due to the use of a “dirty bomb”, the Russian ministry insisted, referring to explosive devices capable of dispersing radioactive elements.”

Russia has not disclosed the details of this accusation, the EFE agency notes.

And the Russian mass media hastened to report that Ukraine is preparing a challenge with a “dirty bomb” on its own territory

Early on Sunday morning, the RIA Novosti agency reported that, according to “reliable sources from several countries, including Ukraine”, Kyiv will prepare a provocation with a “dirty bomb” on its own territory, in order to then accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction and provoke a harsh response from the West .

According to AFP, during one day, the Russian defense minister had an exchange of views of unprecedented intensity since the beginning of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in late February.

The French Ministry of Defense confirmed in a press release that Russia’s fears about “dirty bombing by Ukrainians on their territory to blame Russia” were justified.

Sebastien Lecornu stressed that “France rejects any form of escalation, especially nuclear”, noting also its determination “to contribute to a peaceful resolution of the conflict together with its allies”.

In turn, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, during a conversation with Shoigu, “rejected” Moscow’s claims that Western countries will contribute to the escalation of the war in Ukraine.

“The Minister of Defense warned that such accusations should not be used as a pretext for further escalation,” the British Ministry of Defense said in a statement, stressing that the telephone conversation took place “at Moscow’s request,” reports AFP.

Soigu also called Lloyd Austin, his second phone call in three days

Also on Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the second phone conversation in three days, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement cited by Reuters.

• Read also: Telephone Day in Moscow: Shoigu has a second conversation with the American Minister of Defense in three days

Moscow did not provide additional information on the outcome of the conversation or any other specific topics for discussion. Shoigu and Austin also had a phone conversation on Friday, their first since May.

In the Russian press release about the conversation between Shoigu and Austin, there is no mention of accusations regarding the use of a “dirty bomb” by the Ukrainians, AFP notes.

The talks come as Russia faces a large-scale counteroffensive by Ukraine and condemns a “significant increase” in Ukrainian shelling of several Russian regions near the border.

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