The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will send an observer mission to Ukraine following allegations by Russia that Kyiv is planning to deploy a so-called “dirty bomb” containing radioactive material.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said experts from the organisation would carry out inspections at two locations in Ukraine to detect any diversion of nuclear material under safeguards and any undeclared production or processing of nuclear material at the two locations.

The agency said this followed a request by Ukraine issued in response to claims, without evidence, by Moscow that Kyiv is working on a bomb with nuclear material.

According to the Kremlin, the deployment on Ukrainian territory would be a false flag operation designed to discredit Moscow.

In turn, this has raised fears in the West and Ukraine that Russia might detonate a ”dirty bomb,” meaning a conventional explosive device that disperses radioactive material to blame the Ukrainian side and create a pretext for military escalation, including the use of tactical nuclear weapons.

The agency said the inspection followed a request by Ukraine issued in response to claims, without evidence, by Moscow that Kyiv is working on a bomb with nuclear material.

(dpa/NAN)