Ukraine, allies reject Russian defense chief's claim of "dirty bomb" provocation from Ukraine

Ukraine and several of its allies, including the United States, have rejected a claim from Russia's defense minister, who said that Ukraine was preparing to detonate a "dirty bomb" in its own territory. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made the claims in a series of calls with U.S., British, French and Turkish defense officials.

"We reject reports of Minister Shoygu's transparently false allegations that Ukraine is preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own territory. The world would see through any attempt to use this allegation as a pretext for escalation." said U.S. National Security Coucil spokesperson Adrienne Watson.

A "dirty bomb" uses conventional explosives to spew radiological materials into the air and contaminate the surrounding area. The size of the area contaminated would depend on the size of the explosion.