Kiev’s Threat to Use "Dirty Bomb" is Obvious — Kremlin Spokesman

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that "this information was brought to the attention of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s counterparts"

Photo: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov

MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. Some countries’ distrust towards Moscow's warnings about Ukraine's "dirty bomb" does not mean that there is no such threat, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Monday.

"Their distrust towards the information that was shared by the Russian side does not mean that the threat such a "dirty bomb" may be used ceases to exist. The threat is obvious," Peskov said.

He pointed out that "this information was brought to the attention of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu’s counterparts."

"It's up to them to believe or not to believe," Peskov added.

On Sunday, the US Department of State released a statement by the foreign ministries of Britain, the United States and France, saying that these countries did not consider Russian warnings about the possibility of Kiev using a so-called dirty bomb reasonable enough.

Earlier in the day, Shoigu held telephone conversations with the defense ministers of Britain, the United States, France and Turkey. The Russian defense minister conveyed to his counterparts Russia’s concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine involving the use of a "dirty bomb."

Intelligence chief warns US of consequences of long-term aggression against Russia

Sergey Naryshkin noted that exactly 60 years ago, right during the days of October, the world was one step away from a full-scale nuclear conflict

MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. US elites continue to believe that they can pursue aggression against Russia as long as they want, this short-sighted conviction is teeming with utterly dangerous consequences, Chairman of the Russian Historical Society and Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergey Naryshkin said on Monday.

"Today, American elites continue to believe that they can wage aggression against our country for as long as they want, throwing the lives of thousands and thousands of Ukrainian citizens and mercenaries into the bonfire of hostilities. Such short-sighted conviction is awash with utterly dangerous consequences," he said at the opening of the historical-documentary exhibition ‘The Cuban Missile Crisis. 60 Years Later’ at the Central Armed Forces Museum, "The anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis and many of the documents on display at this remarkable exhibition also warn of this," he pointed out.

Naryshkin noted that exactly 60 years ago, right during the days of October, the world was one step away from a full-scale nuclear conflict. "I recall that by 1962 the US had deployed missiles with nuclear warheads on Turkish territory, which, of course, posed the threat of a potential conflict with our country. In turn, the Soviet Union, seeking to reliably secure the friendly people of Cuba from the aggressive plans of the United States, placed its missiles on the island," he said, "For Washington, it is one thing to surround Soviet territory with its military bases and quite another thing to suddenly discover Soviet missiles near the US coastline. The reaction of American political elites, who had long convinced themselves of this [their] exceptionalism, was painful, nerve-racking and harsh. It was only under pressure from the compelling circumstances that the White House was forced to admit that there could only be one peaceful way of resolving the crisis, and that was the urgent and mutual recognition of red lines."

Naryshkin highlighted the enormous role played by Soviet envoy to the US Anatoly Dobrynin and Soviet Foreign Intelligence resident in Washington Alexander Feklisov in defending the position of the USSR and seeking compromise.

"We must admit that there were rational people among the Kennedy administration, too, capable of sizing up the consequences of their actions and taking responsibility for their own words," the foreign intelligence service director added, "A compromise was reached: Washington and Moscow removed their missiles from Turkey and Cuba, respectively. The world breathed a deep sigh of relief."

Historical parallels

The chairman of the Russian Historical Society stressed that today many experts and political scientists are trying to compare the current situation in the world with the disturbing events of 60 years ago. "However, if we draw this parallel to the end honestly, we will not find a political figure equal to President Kennedy among [today’s] leaders, among the politicians of Western countries nowadays," he said, "And look: in December of last year and January of this year, neither the US leadership nor NATO’s leaders in response to the quite natural proposals of the Russian side were able to actually reaffirm their commitment to the fundamental principle of international law: equal and indivisible security."

About the exhibition

The exhibition goes into detail about the political standoff between the Soviet Union and the United States, which reached its zenith in October 1962. The exhibition features 104 documents from the collections of the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History, the Russian State Film and Photo Archive, as well as other federal and departmental archives.

For the first time ever, unique archival sources, shedding light on the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis in a broader historical context, are being presented to the general public. They include materials about the establishment and development of relations between Moscow and Havana, documents reflecting the development and implementation of Operation Anadyr, correspondence between Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev and US President John Kennedy, code cables and instructions to Soviet envoy to the US Anatoly Dobrynin and Soviet representative to the UN Valerian Zorin, which make it possible to reconstruct the events of October 1962 literally minute by minute.

UN SC to discuss Kiev’s "dirty bomb" threat today or tomorrow — Lavrov

The top diplomat pointed out that the unfounded denials by Western colleagues that these are falsehoods and that Russia itself plans to do something similar in order to later blame the regime of the Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky are not serious

MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. The risk of Kiev using a "dirty bomb" will be on the agenda of the UN Security Council today or tomorrow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the media on the sidelines of the 19th annual meeting of the Valdai international discussion club on Monday.

"This issue will be discussed in the UN Security Council today or tomorrow," Lavrov said.

He stressed that Russia had reliable evidence Ukraine may be planning provocations involving the use of a dirty bomb.

"Detailed information indicating the institutions that may be commissioned for this purpose was conveyed through the defense minister [Sergey Shoigu] during his contacts with his counterparts in the United States, Britain, France and Turkey. More contacts are planned between our defense ministries," he continued.

Lavrov pointed out that "the unfounded denials by Western colleagues that these are falsehoods and that Russia itself plans to do something similar in order to later blame the regime of [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky are not serious."

"Some of our partners have really suggested a discussion of the information we have at a professional military level. This is a kind of approach that we supported," Lavrov summed up.

Shoigu on Sunday held telephone conversations with British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. The Russian defense minister briefed his counterparts on the concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine involving the use of a "dirty bomb". On Friday and Sunday he talked by telephone with the Pentagon’s chief Lloyd Austin.