The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found no traces of undeclared nuclear activity at sites in Ukraine where Russia alleged work was being done to create a dirty bomb, a conventional explosive mixed with nuclear material.
The IAEA issued a statement Thursday that said its inspectors examined three sites in Ukraine at the request of the Ukrainian government and “did not find any indications of undeclared nuclear activities and materials at the locations.”
Russia began warning that Ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb toward the end of October, and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu even spoke with his Western counterparts about the allegation. Russia also brought the issue to the UN and said its forces were preparing to work under “radioactive contamination.”
Ukraine and its Western backers dismissed Russia’s allegations and suggested Moscow would use the accusation as a “pretext” to escalate the war. In response to the IAEA’s conclusions, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Russia the “world’s top liar.”
The dirty bomb allegations have also led to more warnings from the West about the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons, but Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that he has no intention of using nukes in Ukraine. US officials acknowledged this week that they have seen no sign that Russia is preparing for a nuclear strike.
No surprises here because they weren’t asking the right questions. They should have started by auditing the inventories of radioactive material at each of Ukraine’s reactors, including Chernobyl. If anything is missing, it should be assumed that someone has indeed created a dirty bomb.
The thing that worries me most, is that both sides have the ability to compromise the safety mechanisms of the other’s reactor(s). An intentional meltdown is just as dangerous as a dirty bomb. Though I doubt that either side would consider this to be a useful military tool, I consider it certain that proportionate retaliation would occur if either side even suspects that a meltdown is in progress at a facility in the territory they control.
Asking Rafael Grossi and the IAEA (couldn’t even tell who was shelling the Zaporozhe reactors) to investigate the UkroNazis’ dirty bomb is kinda like the IDF’s investigation of the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh. It can only be the Neocons idea of a good joke.
Now this is trully special! And how exactly does IAEA know where a dirty bomb can be assembled? Does IAEA know exactly the wuantities of nuclear material presenr at those plants, or even depleted uranium stirage facilities. Nuclear matter could at any point in time be diverted and transported to a different location.
Seriously , IAEA does not expect a “dirty bomb” be conveniently be assembled at the nuclear power plant.
Is there a pont any more having such agencies? It costs money, a lots of money. Yet, anyone can do their job. Anyone of the street. Iran — bad. Ukraine — good.
Wow, dirty bombs ALSO fall under your area of expertise? How remarkable that you know more about them than International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors!
The site(s) have been moved.
“IAEA Says No Sign of Dirty Bomb at Ukrainian Nuclear Sites The nuclear watchdog inspected three sites in Ukraine after Russia claimed Kyiv was preparing to use a dirty bomb”
IAEA is in the pocket of the evil Joey Biden administration of clowns.
IAEA was in uncle sam’s pocket long before “the evil Joey Biden administration of clowns” was even in existence.
Quelle surprise, as the French say.