Double killer, what is the dirty bomb? What is the degree of its lethality?

The Russian Ministry of Defense, through its Minister Sergei Shoigu, warned that Ukraine would use a "dirty bomb", accusing Russia of creating it. These bombs are considered to be of double danger, as they carry radioactive materials that scatter randomly upon explosion.

During phone calls with his Western counterparts on Sunday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu accused Ukraine of preparing it to carry out strikes using a "dirty bomb", and accused Russia of being behind them. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, during the three talks, Shoigu expressed his "concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a (dirty bomb)."

Russian warnings have brought this type of internationally prohibited weapon to the surface, which is doubly lethal, because it relies on massive explosive capabilities, and is composed of radioactive materials that spread randomly at the time of the explosion.

Denial and counter accusations

For its part, Kiev denied the Russian side's accusations, considering them "ridiculous and dangerous." Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a tweet on his official Twitter account on Sunday that "Russia's lies about Ukraine's intention to use a dirty bomb are as ridiculous as they are dangerous."

It is the same position expressed by the foreign affairs of the United States, Britain and France in a joint statement , saying: "Our countries have made it clear that we all reject Russia's false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its territory." The statement added, "The world will see, through any attempt to use this claim, a pretext for escalation. We reject any pretext for escalation by Russia."

Prior to this, the National Security Council spokeswoman announced at the White House on Sunday that Moscow's statements, in which it accused Ukraine of preparing to use a "dirty bomb" against Russian forces, were "clearly wrong."

Earlier, RIA Novacy Agency, citing what it called "reliable international sources", indicated that there is a possible provocation with the use of this type of bomb, which is planned to be carried out on the territory of Ukraine, aimed at accusing Russia of using weapons of mass destruction in its military operations there, and thus launching A strong campaign against it in the world, in order to undermine confidence in Moscow.

What is the dirty bomb? What is the degree of its lethality?

The Russian Defense Ministry's accusations of using a "dirty bomb" have brought Ukraine back to the international debate this type of forbidden tactical weapon, at a time when warnings about the outbreak of a nuclear conflict that "could drag the world into a war of its end", as US President Joe Biden described it.

On the other hand, a "dirty bomb" is an explosive device that combines conventional explosive materials and radioactive materials, according to the British "Guardian" . The core is made of conventional materials, surrounded by radioactive components, to be spread randomly and widely during the explosion.

According to the US Nuclear Regulatory Authority, this bomb is used tactically on a limited scale, and its destructive power increases with its size. While it combines two forms of lethality, the first is explosive shock, and the second is radioactive, which lasts for a medium to long term, and takes into account the person's proximity to the epicenter of the explosion and the duration of his stay there.

This type of bomb differs from its nuclear or atomic counterpart, as it is considered primitive, and is often used to spread nuclear terror, and the random dissemination of radioactive materials makes it difficult to clean the area where this bomb explodes.

Nuclear horror and preparations

The war in Ukraine revived the specter of nuclear war, after the world thought it had come out of it after the Cold War. The Russian threat to use its arsenal of these weapons prompted a number of European countries to start preparations to confront the danger if it occurred.

In Poland , the authorities began distributing iodine tablets , which prevent the concentration of radioactive substances in human glands, and thus protect relatively against radiation damage. The Warsaw Metropolitan Municipality has established about 600 distribution points in the city, and in the whole region the number of these points has increased to 1,600, and the Ministry of Health has circulated leaflets explaining how to use these tablets, and the conditions for their use.

The activity of the construction of anti-radiation bunkers in the country has also witnessed a remarkable recovery, and the British newspaper "Daily Mail" said that Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons have doubled the demand for the construction of anti-radiation bunkers in Poland. The Polish authorities launched an inspection campaign for public shelters, as there are more than 62,000 shelters in the country capable of housing 1.3 million citizens.

In Spain , the Ministry of Health has spent about 300 million euros in order to enhance its stock of iodine tablets, and is preparing to distribute one million and 150 thousand boxes of them during the month of November next. And Finland announced the depletion of stocks of iodine tablets, after the Ministry of Health recommended their use in the event of a nuclear accident in the region.