Work on Ukraine's creation of a "dirty bomb" is coming to an end, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said at a briefing on threats to radiation security, RIA Novosti reported.

"According to the information we have, two organisations in Ukraine have specific instructions to create a so-called 'dirty bomb'. This work is in its final stage," he said.

According to him, the Kiev regime wants to organize a provocation to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction and launch a powerful anti-Russian campaign in the world.

Kirillov added that Moscow is aware of contacts between the office of the Ukrainian president and representatives of Great Britain on the issue of possible receipt of nuclear weapons technology.

According to the lieutenant general, Kiev plans to disguise the detonation of a "dirty bomb" as an abnormal detonation of a Russian low-yield nuclear warhead that uses highly enriched uranium as a charge.

Radioactive isotopes in the air will be detected by International Monitoring System sensors in Europe, which Zelensky`s office expects will make it possible to accuse the Kremlin of using weapons of mass destruction.

Similar methods have already been used by the West in Syria, when the White Helmets filmed propaganda videos there about the use of chemical weapons by government troops.

Kirillov noted that the explosion of a low-power nuclear weapon would result in radioactive contamination of up to several thousand square kilometers.

After that, Kiev expects to intimidate the local population, increase the flow of refugees across Europe and make Russia look like a nuclear terrorist.

He added that the Ministry of Defense has organized work to counteract possible provocations from Ukraine: forces and means are put in readiness to carry out tasks in conditions of radioactive contamination.

He noted that Ukraine has enterprises that can provide the resources necessary for a low-yield nuclear warhead: three active nuclear power plants (South Ukraine, Khmelnitsk, and Rivne) and the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

The Lieutenant General stated that the newly created enterprise for processing of the radioactive waste Vektor, the Prydniprovsky chemical plant, the Buriakovka, Podlesny, Rossokha radioactive waste burial sites may hold over 50 thousand cubic meters of radioactive waste, which may also be used for the "dirty bomb", the Vostochny Mine and Processing Plant is extracting uranium ore.

Ukraine also has a relevant scientific base. Scientists from the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology participated in the Soviet nuclear program, this research institute also has experimental projects - in particular, the thermonuclear facilities Uragan. In addition, the Institute for Nuclear Research at the Academy of Sciences in Kiev works with radioactive materials at the VVR-M reactor.

"The Defense Ministry has organized work to counteract possible provocations from Ukraine: forces and means are put in readiness to carry out tasks in conditions of radioactive contamination," Kirillov said.

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu voiced concern to his colleagues from the United States, France and Turkey over the possible use of a "dirty bomb" by Kiev.