Western Nations Dismiss Russian Claim Ukraine Will Use a 'Dirty Bomb'
2022-10-25
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1Western countries on Monday said they rejected Russia's accusation that Ukraine plans to use a "dirty bomb."
2A dirty bomb is a bomb that includes radioactive material but is not a nuclear bomb.
3Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with Western foreign ministers on Sunday.
4He said Russia suspected Ukraine of planning to use a dirty bomb in a part of the country held by Russian forces.
5Ukrainian military forces have recently started fighting in the Russian-held Kherson area.
6As a result, Russia has moved civilians out of the area.
7The U.S., Britain, and France said they rejected Russia's concerns about a radioactive bomb.
8They called Russia's statement that Ukraine would use a bomb with nuclear material within its own borders "false."
9The group called Shoigu's statement a "pretext for escalation."
10Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "if Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something it means one thing: Russia has already prepared this."
11He called Russia "the source of everything dirty that can be imagined in this war."
12Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, said "their disbelief doesn't mean there's no threat ... the threat is evident."
13Russia told people who live in the area it controls on the western side of the Dnieper River to leave over concerns that fighting will increase.
14Ukrainian fighters have been moving into the area after Russia claimed the territory as its own earlier in October.
15Experts said, if Russia were to lose the territory, it would be one of its biggest defeats of the war.
16The Kherson area leaders, put in place by Russia, said that any Ukrainian men who stay behind may be put into a Russian military group.
17Ukrainian leaders said this is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
18Kyrylo Budanov is Ukraine's spy chief.
19He said Russian forces are preparing to defend Kherson, not leave it.
20He said reports that the city was being evacuated were not true.
21He said Russia is reinforcing its military in the area but moving civilians, injured people, and important equipment away from the city.
22The war in Ukraine has intensified recently as Russian forces suffered setbacks in September.
23Since then, Russian President Vladimir Putin has put more men into battle, claimed parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian soldiers and launched more long-distance missiles.
24Some of the weapons have hit power stations, leaving many Ukrainians without electricity as the long winter nears.
25I'm Dan Friedell.
1Western countries on Monday said they rejected Russia's accusation that Ukraine plans to use a "dirty bomb." 2A dirty bomb is a bomb that includes radioactive material but is not a nuclear bomb. 3Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke with Western foreign ministers on Sunday. He said Russia suspected Ukraine of planning to use a dirty bomb in a part of the country held by Russian forces. 4Ukrainian military forces have recently started fighting in the Russian-held Kherson area. As a result, Russia has moved civilians out of the area. 5The U.S., Britain, and France said they rejected Russia's concerns about a radioactive bomb. 6They called Russia's statement that Ukraine would use a bomb with nuclear material within its own borders "false." The group called Shoigu's statement a "pretext for escalation." 7Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "if Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something it means one thing: Russia has already prepared this." 8He called Russia "the source of everything dirty that can be imagined in this war." 9Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, said "their disbelief doesn't mean there's no threat ... the threat is evident." 10Russia told people who live in the area it controls on the western side of the Dnieper River to leave over concerns that fighting will increase. 11Ukrainian fighters have been moving into the area after Russia claimed the territory as its own earlier in October. 12Experts said, if Russia were to lose the territory, it would be one of its biggest defeats of the war. 13The Kherson area leaders, put in place by Russia, said that any Ukrainian men who stay behind may be put into a Russian military group. Ukrainian leaders said this is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. 14Kyrylo Budanov is Ukraine's spy chief. He said Russian forces are preparing to defend Kherson, not leave it. He said reports that the city was being evacuated were not true. 15He said Russia is reinforcing its military in the area but moving civilians, injured people, and important equipment away from the city. 16The war in Ukraine has intensified recently as Russian forces suffered setbacks in September. Since then, Russian President Vladimir Putin has put more men into battle, claimed parts of Ukraine occupied by Russian soldiers and launched more long-distance missiles. Some of the weapons have hit power stations, leaving many Ukrainians without electricity as the long winter nears. 17I'm Dan Friedell. 18Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by Reuters. 19________________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21pretext -n. a reason that a person gives to hide the real reason that person has for doing something 22escalate -v. to increase the severity or intensity of a situation 23allege -v. to state without definite proof that someone has done something wrong or illegal 24evacuate -v. to move or be moved out of an area because of the threat of danger 25_______________________________________________________________________ 26We want to hear from you. How do you feel about the threat of a dirty bomb? 27We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 28Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.