U.S. Warns Of ‘Severe Consequences’ If Putin Uses Dirty Bomb In Ukraine

The Biden administration on Tuesday said it would be “a major mistake” for Russia to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine and that it is taking the threat of a dirty bomb seriously, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports from the White House.

“… This would be leading to severe consequences,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told the daily briefing. Her statement came in response to a question about the potential for Russia to use a dirty bomb.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of planning to use a “dirty bomb” on its own territory.

Jean-Pierre, in her turn, said  “we must take this seriously because in the past we have seen Russia use allegations as a pretext to escalate.”

Separately, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder also told reporters on Tuesday that if Russia were to deploy a dirty bomb or other type of nuclear weapon in Ukraine, "there would be consequences" and those consequences "have been communicated to Russia at a variety of levels."

The Defense Department maintains sophisticated technical means of detecting nuclear or radiological detonations of any kind, the spokesperson mentioned.

"It's something that we take very seriously and continue to monitor 24/7," he added.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.