Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his accusations that Ukraine is building a "dirty bomb" - a bomb containing nuclear material. He also roughly knows where this is happening, Putin said during an appearance on a discussion forum.

Referring to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, he added: "I instructed Shoigu to call all colleagues." The Russian Defense Minister has already spoken to colleagues from the USA, China and India about such a bomb.

The US currently has no evidence of an imminent use of a so-called "dirty bomb" with radioactive material in Ukraine. From the US perspective, there is no sign that Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin decided to use such a weapon, "nor have we seen any evidence that the Ukrainians are planning anything like this," said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The Ukrainian leadership also stressed that this was not part of their plans.

IAEA experts are invited

Russia is in favor of sending an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) observer mission to Ukraine quickly, Putin said. The Kremlin chief accused Kyiv of "wanting to cover up the traces of the construction of a 'dirty bomb'". Ukraine had also invited IAEA experts to convince themselves that the Russian allegations were unfounded.

When asked whether Russia itself was considering using nuclear weapons, the Russian President once again pointed to the United States. This is the only country that has so far used atomic bombs against another nation, he said, referring to the bombing of the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in World War II.