Russian propagandists claim that Ukraine may resort to provocation using a “dirty bomb” against Russia. However, such statements are part of Russia's systematic nuclear blackmail aimed at discrediting Ukraine and are false. Russia's statements about the so-called “dirty bomb” serve as a cover for its own actions that pose a threat to international nuclear security. This is what the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security writes.

Russia itself has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons, occupied the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, and is raising concerns about possible incidents at the Zaporizhzhia and Kursk nuclear power plants. Russian troops have also been moving tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus and conducting exercises using their nuclear arsenal, causing concern in the international community.

Such fakes are aimed not only at discrediting the Ukrainian leadership, but also at diverting attention from Russia's own crimes in the nuclear arena. Statements about the possibility of Ukraine using nuclear weapons are targeted propaganda aimed at undermining international trust in Ukraine and justifying further nuclear escalation by Russia.

Russian sources are once again spreading information that Ukraine is preparing to make a dirty nuclear bomb. Nuclear waste from nuclear power plants is used to create it. After all, as the propagandists write, this waste can allegedly be used not only for detonation, but also for contaminating the area for tens of kilometers.

However, information that Ukraine can create nuclear weapons from waste from nuclear power plants is unfounded. This is reported by journalists from the StopFake project.

In 1994, Ukraine joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. These actions confirmed that Ukraine is the owner of all nuclear weapons that it inherited from the USSR and intends to get rid of them completely, using atomic energy in the future only for civilian purposes. Already in 1996, Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons and has not developed the corresponding technologies since then. Today, Ukraine has neither the ability to create such a type of weapon, nor the desire to violate the preliminary agreements.

Polina Sinovets, head of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Center, said in a commentary for BBC Ukraine that “we do not enrich uranium to obtain a high content of the 235U isotope, which is necessary for creating uranium nuclear weapons”. Nuclear weapons can also be created by enriching plutonium in nuclear reactors, which is not practiced in Ukraine. “We do not enrich uranium - this is the main thing, and we do not process nuclear fuel to obtain plutonium - that is, there are no opportunities for either the uranium or plutonium paths of developing nuclear weapons”, Polina Sinovets concluded.

After all, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi recently denied information about Ukraine's intentions to restore its nuclear arsenal, noting the importance of NATO membership as the main guarantee of security. Also, the creation of such weapons cannot go unnoticed. Thus, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors the nuclear programs of states and constantly monitors the situation in Ukraine. At the same time, earlier NNEGC Energoatom stated that it was Russia that could prepare an act of nuclear terrorism at the occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, violating all possible safety rules.

The narrative about the creation of a dirty nuclear bomb in Ukraine is one of the most widespread. Russian propaganda uses it to discredit Ukraine and justify Russian full-scale aggression.

Pro-Russian sources are distributing a photo of what appears to be the cover of the Scottish newspaper The National with the headline “Zelenskyi provokes nuclear crisis” on the front page. The newspaper also asks: “Why does Zelenskyi's victory plan pose a threat to the world's nuclear security?”

In fact, The National did not publish such material, and the newspaper's cover was edited. This is written about in the StopFake project. In its official account on the X social network, the publication published what the issue of The National for October 18, 2024 looked like. The front page did not contain any news about Volodymyr Zelenskyi or Ukraine in general. It was about the ceremonial farewell to former Scottish Prime Minister Alex Salmond, who died of a heart attack on October 12, 2024.

Russians have been speculating on the topic of nuclear weapons since the publication of the Victory Plan by Volodymyr Zelenskyi and his statement that the guarantee of security for Ukraine could be either nuclear weapons (which the state renounced in 1996) or NATO membership. Despite the fact that the president clarified that Ukraine is not developing and does not plan to restore nuclear weapons, Putin has already managed to accuse Ukraine of provocations. However, it is Russia that regularly uses nuclear blackmail as an instrument of foreign policy.

Previously, we analyzed the Russian message that Ukraine was trying to provoke Russia into a nuclear strike.

Russian diplomats have stated in the media that Russia may resume nuclear testing if the United States carries out similar actions. They also note that the Nova Zemlia test site is fully prepared for such tests. By “similar actions” they mean American nuclear tests, although their statement was made in the context of a discussion of Russia's possible response to Western long-range weapons strikes on Russian territory.

Russia systematically uses nuclear blackmail as a tool to intimidate the West. This is noted by the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council. The statement about the possible resumption of nuclear tests creates an atmosphere of tension and tries to influence the decision of Western countries to continue supporting Ukraine. The statement about readiness for testing is positioned as a response to hypothetical actions by the United States, which allows the Kremlin to justify its aggressive actions and create the impression that Russia is acting defensively, not aggressively.

Threats of nuclear escalation are intended to deter the West from further arms sales to Ukraine, especially long-range weapons capable of striking Russian territory. Moscow seeks to insure itself against such strikes while at the same time frightening Ukraine’s partners into abandoning such decisions. Domestically, such statements reinforce the image of a “strong Russia” capable of confronting the West and acting from a position of strength. They also help legitimize further military action and justify an aggressive foreign policy.

The Kremlin regularly threatens the world with its nuclear arsenal. This time, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Riabkov said that Russia does not rule out the possibility of resuming nuclear tests “in response to similar actions by the United States”. He explained that "similar actions" meant nuclear tests by the United States, but this statement was made during a discussion about Russia's response to possible Western long-range weapons strikes on its territory.

The Russian diplomat also noted that all the infrastructure necessary for nuclear testing appears to be in full readiness at the testing site on the Nova Zemlia archipelago (Russia).

The Center for Countering Disinformation emphasizes that in this way Riabkov is trying to manipulate public opinion and justify another act of nuclear blackmail, positioning it as “retaliatory actions”. By signaling its readiness for nuclear escalation, Moscow is seeking to demonstrate its strength and intimidate Ukraine’s Western partners so that they abandon the idea of granting permission to strike Russian territory with their weapons. It should be noted that the Russian diplomat made the statement against the backdrop of information appearing in the media about the explosion of the Sarmat intercontinental missile during tests.

Russian propagandists use threats of nuclear weapons in response to any strikes on Russian territory to intimidate the West and deter military support for Ukraine. They call for changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine to legitimize the use of nuclear weapons even against non-nuclear attacks, increasing the rhetoric of escalation and attempting to deflect responsibility for the continuation of the war.

However, the main goal of such statements is to force the West and its allies to limit support for Ukraine and complicate the transfer of weapons, including long-range missiles. Russia is trying to create the impression that any strikes on its territory could lead to a global catastrophe due to the use of nuclear weapons, which in turn should demoralize not only Ukraine, but also the international community.

However, Russia's use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear strikes is contrary to international norms. Such statements also indicate that Moscow seeks to avoid discussing its responsibility for the aggression against Ukraine and the course of the war, trying to justify aggressive actions and threats to global security.

A “news story” has been spreading on social media, purporting to show British MP Andrew Bridgen claiming that NATO is planning to carry out a false flag attack on a European city using a nuclear “dirty bomb” and blame it on Russia.

But fact-checkers at VoxCheck reported that Andrew Bridgen provides no evidence for his thesis. Moreover, he has repeatedly spread conspiracy theories.

A reverse search was used to find an interview, an excerpt from which was distributed by propagandists. It was published on June 20, 2024, on the YouTube channel Resistance GB. The Guardian journalists found out that this channel spreads conspiracy theories, in particular, anti-vaccination narratives.

Mr. Bridgen did not provide any evidence, names of experts, details, etc., by which this information could be verified. The statement about a “NATO plan to detonate a bomb” has already been invented in Russian channels. In his messages in X, Bridgen also promotes pro-Russian narratives, in particular calling the transfer of military aid to Ukraine an “escalation”.

Russia is speculating on the use of a “dirty bomb” to sow distrust in Ukraine and force the world to spend resources on refuting the accusations of propagandists. An IAEA commission came to Ukraine to check whether a “dirty bomb” was really being developed at the sites that Russia claimed to be developing – the Eastern Mining and Processing Plant in Zhovti Vody and the Institute for Nuclear Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The result of the inspection was that the Agency did not find any signs of such a weapon at Ukrainian nuclear sites.

The fake news about Ukraine creating a “dirty bomb” is a mirror response from Russia, the purpose of which is to try to convince the world that it is Ukraine that is acting as a terrorist group. This, by the way, is one of the most common messages of Russian propaganda, constantly trying to accuse Ukraine of terrorism, saying that it itself is shelling Ukrainian civilians and launching missile strikes on its own critical infrastructure.

Read more on “Dirty Bomb”: What is it and why did Russia come up with this fake?

Propagandists are actively disseminating on anonymous telegram channels the statement of the self-proclaimed dictator of Belarus Oleksandr Lukashenko that the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ attack on the Kursk region is allegedly an attempt by Kyiv to provoke Russia into using nuclear weapons. According to Lukashenko, such actions could lead to Moscow losing its international allies, which allegedly puts Russia in a dangerous position.

Specialists from the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security drew attention to this. They emphasize that Lukashenko has long been a staunch ally of Russian propaganda, and his statements regarding nuclear escalation are a reflection of Kremlin rhetoric. The Kremlin constantly stokes the fear of nuclear war in order to keep the world on edge and influence the decisions of the international community.

Russia, which seized the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and turned it into a military base, accuses Ukraine of “provocations” aimed at forcing Russia to use nuclear weapons. Such statements are intended to divert attention from the real threat posed by Russian aggression and its nuclear blackmail.

The Kremlin's tactics are aimed at sowing fear and confusion among the population of Ukraine and its international partners in order to weaken their resolve in resisting Russian aggression. Russia continues to use nuclear blackmail as a tool of political pressure in an attempt to force the world to capitulate to its demands.

Propagandists on anonymous telegram channels are disseminating information about a new Ukrainian counteroffensive, which was allegedly developed by the Ukrainian high command. It allegedly includes an attack on Enerhodar in order to gain control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. They say that Ukraine is ready to risk a nuclear disaster in order to save its energy system.

The purpose of this message is to create panic and fear among the population and the international community, linking possible actions of Ukraine with the threat of a nuclear disaster. Let's take a closer look at its manipulative elements and the goals of the propagandists. Propagandists want to make people believe that it is the actions of Ukraine, not Russia, that can lead to a nuclear disaster. They say that it is ready to risk global security to achieve its goals. Propagandists try to create an impression of authenticity by using “insider information” language. However, most often they use such words to hide their lack of any reliable sources confirming what they want.

Russia often uses nuclear threats as a tool to intimidate and influence the international community. Propaganda is actively using the topic of nuclear security to force the international community and Ukraine to make concessions and compromises in favor of Russia by creating fear of a nuclear disaster. And also to divert attention from Russia’s aggressive actions in Ukraine. In general, Russian propaganda creates controversial or sensational messages to influence the ability of those in their audience to distinguish truth from lies.

Pro-Russian telegram channels are promoting the message that the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the head of the Office of the President Andrii Yermak allegedly do not intend to end the Russian-Ukrainian war, because then they will lose power and influence. Therefore, according to propagandists, Kyiv is preparing a provocation to incite the Kremlin to a powerful response, preferably with the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

By spreading this information, Russia seeks to shift responsibility for the war and the death of Ukrainians onto the Ukrainian authorities. In this case, the Russians resort to “scapegoat” propaganda tactics, abdicating responsibility for a possible nuclear strike and shifting it onto Zelenskyi and Yermak. However, the main reason for the continuation of the war is Russia, in particular, its aggressive policy towards Ukraine and its unwillingness to engage in fair and conscientious negotiations.

Also, citing a recent article by The New York Times about a supposedly possible secret military operation in Ukraine, propagandists claim that the Western press is taking the United States “out of the negative case of supporting terrorism”. According to the article, after the Kremlin warned the Pentagon about a “provocation from Ukraine”, the Americans contacted Kyiv and told it not to do anything like that.

By making statements about Ukrainian terrorism, Russia is diverting attention from its own terrorist acts on Ukrainian territory. Thus, the Kremlin makes similar accusations to those brought against itself. In addition, in this case, propagandists are feeding Russian narratives that “Ukraine is a puppet state” and is led by “overseas masters”.

Let us recall that Russia regularly makes accusations against Ukraine regarding preparations for the use of chemical weapons, or a “dirty” nuclear bomb.

Propagandists have again begun to spread information about the “nuclear threat” from Ukraine. This time they are using a statement by Ihor Kyrylov, the head of the Russian radiation, chemical and biological defense forces. He stated that spent nuclear fuel is allegedly being imported into Ukraine, from which it is planned to later create a nuclear weapon (“dirty bomb”). They say that this process is being handled by the head of the Presidential Office, AndriI Yermak. However, this is fake.

Specialists from the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine wrote about this. They noted that such accusations against Ukraine are unfounded. “Dirty bomb” is more of a journalistic cliche. Such weapons have never been used and, in fact, they are not classified as nuclear. Ultimately, in 2022, as a result of Russian claims about the production of a “dirty bomb”, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) arranged inspections of Ukrainian facilities, denying the Russian claims.

To spread this fake news, the Russians are resorting to whataboutism tactics with the intention of distracting attention from the Russian nuclear threat. While Ukraine demands that Russia be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism, Russia is trying to accuse Ukraine of terrorism.

Spreading fake news about a “dirty bomb” to create distrust and fear of Ukraine. Thus, they are trying to convince the world that Ukraine is supposedly a threat to it and justify Russian aggression.

Defense Minister of the Lukashenko regime Viktor Khrienin announced the participation of Russian troops in the second stage of trainig using non-strategic nuclear weapons. He expressed concern about “aggressive actions” from the West and said that Belarus is ready, together with Russia, to respond to these “threats”“.

Specialists from the Center for Countering Disinformation drew attention to the message. They note that permission to use Western weapons on Russian territory showed that Moscow’s nuclear blackmail did not work. The continuation of hysteria on the part of the Kremlin indicates that Russia has no other plan.

For its part, Belarus plays along with Moscow’s desires in order to obtain preferences in response to efforts to destabilize the situation in Europe. This applies not only to nuclear threats, but also to the artificially created migration crisis and participation in the information war against Ukraine. Russia is trying to up the ante in intimidating Europe by enlisting Belarus for nuclear blackmail.

This statement is part of a Russian nuclear blackmail campaign aimed at causing panic among Ukraine's partners and influencing the decision to support our state.

Propaganda telegram channels write that the West, together with Kyiv, are allegedly trying to shift the blame for dangerous incidents at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Russia. And that in this way they only confirm their involvement in these provocations.

In fact, this information is not true. This was reported by the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security at the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. The Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN, Serhii Kyslytsia, at a meeting of the Security Council rejected accusations from Russia that Ukraine could cause a nuclear disaster: “Someone believes that a country that is still recovering from a major nuclear disaster would like a repeat of Chernobyl in 1986? This is an idea that could only have occurred to Kremlin propagandists, because only Kremlin propagandists openly dream of radioactive dust replacing Ukrainian cities”.

In addition, according to the chairman deputy of the Board of National Atomic Power Generating Company Energoatom Petro Kotin, due to the incompetence of the personnel recruited by the occupiers, the necessary repairs and inspections are not carried out in full at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. In particular, this is why equipment failures are recorded, which significantly worsens the safety situation.

Accusing the Russians of Ukraine’s alleged involvement in the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and promoting this disinformation at the level of the UN and the Russian Foreign Ministry is part of the Kremlin’s nuclear terrorism. At the same time, in this way propagandists discredit Ukraine and throw another “argument” into the information space to justify aggression, which sounds like “protection from terrorism on the part of Ukraine”. Read more about how Russia blurs reality by resorting to rhetoric about the “Ukrainian trace” in various troubles in Russia or even the world here.

Russian telegram channels are disseminating a report from the HJS analytical center, which allegedly indicates the fact that Kyiv has insufficient control over dangerous radioactive materials. However, this is manipulation.

Specialists from the VoxCheck project drew attention to it. They found out that the report analyzes the nuclear security situation in Ukraine against Russian missile strikes. The authors do not indicate that Kyiv does not sufficiently control radioactive materials. In contrast, the report notes that the main threat to radiation safety comes from Russian attacks on nuclear facilities in Ukraine, which poses serious threats to NATO countries, including the UK.

The study makes recommendations to the UK and other NATO countries on the situation, such as using diplomatic and political means to reduce the nuclear threat, supporting the IAEA to create a “nuclear safety zone” around Ukrainian nuclear power plants and deploying radiation detection instruments. It is noted that the UK and NATO should initiate the development of an international legal instrument for the security of nuclear facilities during armed conflicts.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not reveal any violations during its inspections of nuclear facilities controlled by Ukraine. Moreover, the IAEA Board of Governors approved a resolution on the need to return the Zaporizhzhia NPP to full control of Ukraine.

Propagandists spread such manipulations in order to discredit Ukraine and divert attention from Russia's actions. Detector Media has already written about other Russian manipulations concerning the IAEA.

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.

Russian political scientist Serhii Karhanov, who previously proposed a “pre-emptive retaliation strike” against one of the NATO countries, published an article in which he demands a change in Russian nuclear doctrine. According to Karhanov, if the downing of Russian planes and subsequent bombing of Russian cities continue, then, according to the new doctrine, powerful nuclear attacks should be carried out on EU countries. This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council.

Karhanov also proposes to abandon the nonproliferation doctrine and “help” “friendly countries” obtain nuclear weapons, in particular, the Arab world and Latin America. This should supposedly help Russia achieve victory in the war, which he considers the complete occupation of the eastern, southern and central regions of Ukraine.

Thus, Russian propaganda is trying to use the US election period to force the EU to reduce military aid to Ukraine and agree to peace negotiations on Putin’s terms.

Karhanov himself is considered an influential scientist and is a member of the scientific council of the Russian Security Council, but does not directly participate in decision-making. Moscow uses statements by Karhanov, as well as ex-President Dmytro Medvediev, solely to frighten the world with a “nuclear cataclysm”.

Read also: The EU flouts its principles because it supports providing Ukraine with depleted uranium weapons, but wants to impose sanctions on Belarus for nuclear weapons

On anonymous telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric, they write that Zelenskyi plans to purchase uranium from Niger for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. The authors of the fake explain that the purchase contract seemed to have been signed in November 2023 by the current Minister of Defense Rustem Umierov. At the same time, they cite the African publication Sene News, where journalists quoted one of their military personnel to support this thesis. It is not true.

The fact-checkers at the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council wrote that there were no official statements from Ukraine about the so-called “purchase of nuclear weapons”. And Rustem Umierov did not make any trips to Niger and did not sign such purchase contracts. That is, this is another stuffing of Russian propagandists who continue to replicate the Kremlin’s rhetoric about the use of “dirty weapons” against Russia including in order to justify unprovoked aggression and bloody war.

Read in our material why Moscow is implementing a disinformation campaign against Ukraine and why it lies about the use of nuclear weapons by Ukraine (and threatens nuclear bombing on its part).

Propagandists are disseminating information with reference to a publication in the British tabloid Daily Mail, allegedly Ukraine has the components to create a “dirty bomb”. They say that the UK began to view Ukraine as a potential threat to Europe due to the fact that Kyiv allegedly “sells weapons indiscriminately to whom and where” and as a result of which terrorists can illegally transport nuclear materials through Europe to the UK.

The story in question is a Daily Mail report titled “Radioactive substances could be smuggled out of Ukraine during invasion unrest and end up used in “dirty bombs” on UK streets unless border controls are tightened in NATO countries, warns nuclear energy expert” dated December 12, 2023. However, this is manipulation.

The StopFake specialists drew attention to it. They found that this time propagandists are manipulating Rachel Bunyan's Daily Mail article to once again portray Ukraine as a danger to the world. In fact, nowhere in the Daily Mail publication is it written that the Ukrainian authorities are somehow illegally selling components for “dirty bombs” to terrorists. On the contrary, the author points out that the danger is precisely the unlawful Russian attacks on Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

Dr. Ghiassi, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Fellowship think tank, noted in a commentary for the Daily Mail that Russia's takeover of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, one of the largest nuclear power plants in the world, has resulted in regular shelling and power outages making it impossible to safely use the plant. According to the expert, the situation becomes even more dangerous due to the fact that more than 3,000 nuclear fuel cells containing highly radioactive substances and plutonium stored in metal containers at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant are vulnerable to air attacks.

Dr Ghiassi, in a commentary for the Daily Mail, noted that air attacks on the nuclear plant and the damage they caused could “facilitate terrorists or proxy groups acting on behalf of hostile states to illegally obtain radioactive substances to create nuclear dirty bombs”. The expert believes that the insecurity of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant poses “serious threats to the security of Ukraine and countries beyond its borders, including the UK”. He calls on countries to strengthen controls at land and sea borders, in particular, to increase the number of radiation detectors at checkpoints.

Moreover, the publication reminds its readers that initially the full-scale invasion, Russia, without providing evidence, accused Ukraine of Kyiv possibly planning to use a “dirty bomb” in the war. Citing experts interviewed, the Daily Mail writes that “dirty bombs” are relatively primitive and inaccurate weapons that terrorists use “more as a psychological weapon” to intimidate people.

Russia's false claims about a “Ukrainian dirty bomb” and a “Ukrainian nuclear provocation” were refuted not only by the Ukrainian government, but also by international organizations, including the UN. In addition, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following the results of an unscheduled inspection conducted at the request of Ukraine in November 2022, did not identify any signs of illegal activities at nuclear facilities controlled by Ukraine. The Kremlin propaganda has more than once used the topic of “dirty bombs” to discredit Ukraine in front of its Western partners.

Propagandists spreading pro-Russian rhetoric on social networks claim that Svitlana Tykhanovska allegedly promised to transfer Belarusian tactical nuclear weapons to Ukraine during her speech at PACE. However, this news is fictitious.

The fact-checkers of the VoxCheck project drew attention to the case. The primary source of the news is the satirical telegram channel “The Empire is very evil”. The description of the channel clearly states that its materials are a creative invention, and all coincidences are random.

Svitlana Tykhanovska has never made such statements. There are no reliable sources confirming this information. Her last speech at PACE in June 2023 did not contain such promises, like all her other public statements. Reputable Ukrainian and international media also did not record any reports regarding such statements from Tykhanovska.

Propagandists use satirical materials to ridicule those who express support for Ukraine and confuse the information space. All this is so that people stop understanding what is truth and what is fiction.

Russian media write that the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Budanov, in an October interview with NV, said that “Ukraine is bombing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant” and “wants to arrange a nuclear Armageddon” to blackmail the whole world. The material mentions attempts by the Ukrainian military to de-occupy territories and strategic objects illegally seized by the Russians, such as the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This is manipulation.

The case was investigated by the fact-checkers of the StopFake project. In the NV media material, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and his work colleagues shared details of some special military intelligence operations. The Ukrainian armed forces landed three times on the left bank of the Dnipro near Enerhodar to create a springboard for the de-occupation of the city and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Despite the fact that the operations were unsuccessful, that is, the desired result was not achieved, the Ukrainian military managed to at least thwart Russia’s plans to connect the Zaporizhzhia NPP to its energy system.

Representatives of Ukrainian intelligence did not make any “admissions” that Ukraine allegedly “bombed” the station. By trying to dislodge the occupiers, Ukraine is not committing a crime, but is using its legitimate right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. Russia regularly creates crisis situations at Zaporizhzhia NPP, each of which carries the threat of a large-scale accident.

Previously, for example, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense denied Russian disinformation about Ukraine’s alleged plans to attack the Zaporizhzhia NPP with drones.

Russian media, broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric, spread information that the head of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kareshi, allegedly said that Ukraine threatens nuclear security in the world. Propaganda reports in its media that confirmation of the possible occurrence of a nuclear catastrophe is that Ukraine will be given F-16 fighter jets that can carry missiles with nuclear warheads. It is not true.

The case was investigated by the fact-checkers of the StopFake project. At the UN meeting dedicated to the International Day against Nuclear Tests, the head of the General Assembly Csaba Kareshii noted that Russia regularly threatens to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine. Russian propaganda did not translate some of the words about Russia, but added information about the “aggression of Ukraine” on its own behalf.

And the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, Ms. Bonnie Denise Jenkins, said they “are concerned, however, by the disturbing nuclear rhetoric from the Russian Federation over the past year and a half – in particular, President Putin’s statement in February about Russia’s willingness to resume nuclear explosive testing”. None of the countries has accused Ukraine of the threat of a nuclear catastrophe, and the F-16s do not carry a nuclear threat.

Russian propagandists use the tactic of reflection - they attribute their actions to opponents. Russian propaganda accuses Ukraine of a nuclear threat, although it is a non-nuclear state, and Russia itself systematically uses nuclear blackmail. Earlier, Detector Media said that the Russians were spreading information that Ukraine was allegedly creating a “dirty nuclear bomb”.

Such a message is spread by anonymous telegrams, channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric; and disseminate information that the Office of the President is working on the creation of a nuclear bomb. And the Russian propaganda media, citing the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Serhii Naryshkin, write that Ukraine may have returned to creating a “dirty bomb”. It is not true.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said on the air of the United News marathon that the occupiers “used the entire arsenal of weapons, both military and informational. That is why the enemy is returning to the only tool of blackmail - nuclear weapons”. As Hanna Maliar notes, the Russians are trying to spread panic among Ukrainians, so they use the topic of nuclear weapons as an instrument of blackmail, pressure and intimidation.

In October 2022, Russian propagandists were already spreading the word that Ukraine was building a “dirty bomb”. Then Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: “Russia’s lies about Ukraine’s alleged plans to use a “dirty bomb” are as absurd as they are dangerous. First, Ukraine is a committed party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: we do not have any “dirty bombs” and do not plan to have them. Secondly, Russians often blame others for what they themselves plan”.

On November 16, 1994, Ukraine acceded to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This Treaty is sometimes interpreted as a system of three principles: non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, disarmament, and the right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that Ukraine is preparing a nuclear strike. The authors add that this is the response of the Ukrainians to the alleged murder of Kyryl Budanov by the Russians. It is not true. 

The fact-checkers of the StopFake project drew attention to the case, they found out that Ukraine is not preparing and cannot prepare a nuclear strike, since it does not carry out undeclared activities at nuclear facilities. This is also confirmed by the conclusions of the IAEA mission after visiting Ukraine. Checks of nuclear facilities are carried out systematically, the last of which was in May this year. According to the conclusions of the expert commission, no suspicious types of activity were recorded. As for the so-called “death” of the head of the GUR, Kyryl Budanov, we also recently refuted this fake. 

Thus, the propagandists seek to demoralize the Ukrainians and show them how supposedly “there is no one to protect them”. By spreading this fake, propagandists are trying to re-justify their actions and shift the responsibility for them to the victim. Allegedly, Russia is fighting against Ukraine, which wants to destroy Russia with “dirty bombs”.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. Reports say that during an air raid on May 13 around 10:35 p.m., explosions were heard in a warehouse in Ternopil. The authors of the reports add that the Russians got into the train, where there is ammunition with uranium. That is, the fire was dangerous, because uranium can emit radiation. It is not true.

Espresso journalists spoke with the head of the Ternopil regional administration, Volodymyr Trush, who said that no ammunition was detonated during rocket attacks. In addition, there is no enriched or depleted uranium in Ternopil. Volodymyr Trush also confirmed that there is a stable ecological situation in Ternopil. He explained that in the conditions of war in the city, the level of radiation is measured twice a day. So, the indicators have not changed and do not exceed the norm. That is, the city is clean and there is no danger.

By spreading this fake, the authors seek to destabilize the mood of Ukrainians and once again intimidate them with “nuclear bombing” of Russia. Let us remind you that earlier analysts of Detector Media also analyzed the case related to “nuclear weapons” in Ukraine. We analyzed the message where the propagandists claimed that the Ukrainian military was using banned weapons with a high content of uranium.

Such information was disseminated in social networks, in particular, on telegram channels broadcasting pro-Kremlin rhetoric. After Finland joined NATO, Russia is reportedly transporting nuclear weapons to the border town of Vyborg. As proof, the authors attach a video and add that Topol-M or Yars nuclear installations are being transported to the video. It is not true.

The case was noticed by the VoxCheck project specialists, they determined that the video was filmed in the Volodymyr region. Using a reverse search, the fact-checkers also found out that the video was filmed in the city of Kolchugino, located near Moscow. That is, this video could not be filmed near the border with Finland. Analysts just found a video of the transport of nuclear weapons through Kolchugino dated February 26, 2022. And propagandists could use this video to allegedly confirm the transport of nuclear weapons to the city of Vyborg.

Previously, analysts of Detector Media investigated how anonymous telegram channels reacted to Finland's entry into NATO.