US President Joe Biden issued a strong warning to Russia on Tuesday, stating that unleashing a nuclear weapon in the conflict with Ukraine would be a horrible mistake on its part.
As reporters questioned Biden about his belief that Russia is planning a “dirty bomb” attack that it would later attribute to Ukraine, he responded, “Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake were it to use a tactical nuclear weapon.”
Russia has frequently cautioned Ukraine not to use a “dirty bomb” on its own soil.
A ‘dirty bomb’ uses dynamite or other explosives to scatter radioactive dust, smoke, or other material to cause radioactive contamination after explosion.
The US and its allies fear that Russia may launch a “false flag” strike using a dirty bomb in order to justify the use of conventional nuclear weapons as Moscow finds itself in a precarious position in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Biden stated: “I’m not guaranteeing that it’s a false flag operation yet. We don’t know.”
According to the Pentagon, Russia would suffer consequences if it used such technology.
“If Russia were to employ nuclear weapons or a dirty bomb, there would be consequences,” Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder warned without going into further details, while talking to reporters.