What is a dirty bomb, the latest Russian pretext for an escalation in the Ukraine war

Russia’s latest pretext for an escalation in the Ukraine war is called a dirty bomb. This is what France, the United States and the United Kingdom believe after the statements of the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigú, accusing kyiv of intending to use this type of device in its own territory and later blaming it on the Kremlin. “We reject any pretext for an escalation by Russia,” they said in a joint statement this morning. What is a dirty bomb? It is a combination of explosives, such as dynamite, and radioactive powder or pellets. It is also known as a radiological dispersal device (RDD). According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a dirty bomb cannot generate an atomic explosion, as a nuclear device or weapon would. When explosives are detonated, the impact releases radioactive materials. In no case would it generate an explosion of a magnitude comparable to that of a nuclear bomb, nor the ‘mushroom cloud’ that is associated, for example, with the cases of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Fear of a nuclear escalation Russia’s warnings about the alleged use of this nuclear explosive device have fueled fears of a nuclear escalation in the conflict. kyiv fears that Moscow is already looking for excuses to climb one more step, given that Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the threat of a nuclear attack on more than one occasion, with unforeseeable consequences for both the region and the world. The International Atomic Energy Agency concluded two decades ago that “the most serious impact” of a radiological weapon would be “the panic and social disturbances” that the detonation would provoke, comparable in its effects to “an act of terrorism.” In recent decades, the main fear of experts is that terrorist groups could use this type of weapon, as was already evident in the mid-1990s in Chechnya. The only two documented attempts to use dirty bombs correspond to this Russian republic. Medical recommendations The US authorities warn, in any case, that the dust and smoke can spread and be dangerous in case of inhalation, so they recommend staying in closed places or, if you are outside, cover your nose and mouth with some type of garment. The consumption of potassium iodide is recommended in the case of radioactive contamination -for example after an accident at a nuclear power plant-, but the CDC does not see it as a priority in the case of dirty bombs, since there is no way to know the composition of the artifact first and it can be counterproductive. They also do not believe that the consumption of water or food in the area near the dirty pump poses a risk. However, for prevention, it recommends not drinking or eating anything that has been exposed to the open air.