Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) has expressed deep concern following Russian government statements about scenarios involving a radioactive “dirty bomb” in Ukraine. The West must express unanimously that any use of such nuclear weapons a “crossing of red lines” would be, said Lambrecht on Monday.
“Something like that shouldn’t happen,” said Lambrecht at one Visit to the Special Forces Command (KSK) of the Bundeswehr in Calw, Baden-Württemberg. At the same time, she stressed that such threats would have “no impact” on German support for Ukraine. “We still stand behind Ukraine.”
Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu expressed concern in phone calls with defense ministers from several NATO countries on Sunday that Ukraine could prepare to use a “dirty bomb”. This is understood to mean a conventional explosive device which, when it explodes, spreads radioactive material into the environment and irradiates it.
the Ukraine and the US immediately dismissed the accusation as absurd rejected. However, Shoigu’s statement fueled fears that Russia itself might be planning to use such a weapon.
Lambrecht called the statements an “outrageous accusation” against Ukraine for which there was “zero evidence”. It is important that the West “clearly” rejects this claim and at the same time sends out the message that it still stands behind Ukraine, she said.
