Russian propagandists are spreading information in the media that Ukraine is conducting nuclear tests. They claim that the earthquake in the Poltava region, recorded in early March 2024, is allegedly evidence of an “underground nuclear explosion” from Ukraine. They say this may be an attempt by Ukraine to hint to the world that it has nuclear weapons and is ready to use them. However, this is not true.

Specialists from the StopFake project drew attention to this. They emphasize that Ukraine is a nuclear-free country and does not intend to conduct nuclear tests. Earthquakes in this region are a natural phenomenon and are not associated with nuclear explosions.

Russian officials began spreading disinformation as early as 2022 claiming that Ukraine was planning to use a dirty bomb. However, these statements are not confirmed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has never expressed any intention to acquire, or worse, create, nuclear weapons. In addition to the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine has obligations under a number of other documents - both national and international. On October 24, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a statement on the country’s nuclear-free status. Three years later, Ukraine actually joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It is this document, and not the Budapest Memorandum, that obliges Ukraine not to own nuclear weapons.