Russian Defence Ministry put forces on alert to perform tasks in radiation conditions

Head of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Forces of the Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov has said that the use of a "dirty bomb" would lead to the contamination of several thousand square metres of territory.

Kyiv could accuse Moscow of using the bomb, a source at the Russian Defense Ministry told Kommersant. The ministry stressed that "the forces and means are ready to perform tasks in conditions of radioactive contamination."

“The detonation of a radiological explosive device will inevitably lead to radioactive contamination of the area over an area of up to several thousand square metres,” Kirillov said at a briefing on threats to radiation safety.