A kilogram of radioactive material, specifically of the radioactive isotope cesium-137, could have been yet another reason for Russia and Ukraine to accuse each other of war crimes in the current conflict, in addition to adding to the tragedy that has already lasted 16 months. According to the Federal Security Service (FSB, formerly KGB), traffickers tried to buy cesium-137 to take it to Ukraine and accuse Russia of its use. Five people have been arrested this Friday.
Russian police managed to intercept “five members of the criminal group red-handed” when they tried to buy the material and take it out of Russia to use it “to the detriment of Russian interests” during the fighting in Ukraine, the FSB press department said.
According to that department, the group was acting in the interest of a foreign client (from which country is not specified) and under the coordination of a Ukrainian citizen. They were going to buy a radioactive isotope in exchange for $3.5 million.
Subsequently, the FSB added, they intended to use cesium-137 to “stage an incident with the use of weapons of mass destruction” with the intention of accusing and discrediting Russia. The FSB did not give details of where and how the group was allegedly trying to get hold of the material.
On Thursday, the Telegram channel Shot reported the arrest in Scholkovo, near Moscow, of two men who had also tried to buy cesium-137 to get it out of Russia.
The individuals turned to an employee of a research institute, who contacted the security forces to report it.
Cesium-137 is one of the main radioactive isotopes of cesium and also one of the main components present in radioactive waste from nuclear reactors.
Its half-life is about 30 years and it can contaminate land and reach the food chain.
It is not the first time that the Russian side denounces that provocations with radioactive substances are being prepared. last February the Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Ukraine intended to prepare false evidence accusing the Russian military of “stealing” radioactive materials from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Kyiv could stage a provocation using a “dirty bomb”. Ukraine denied such accusation.
This week the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky, assured that Ukrainian intelligence had information that Russia would be considering carrying out a “terrorist attack” on the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, although Russian troops have controlled it since March 2022. shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the army to intervene militarily in the neighboring country.
Russia has denied Kyiv’s accusations and has responded that it is the Ukrainian authorities who plan to seize the plant and bomb its facilities, including those where nuclear fuel is stored.
