The use of a dirty bomb by Kiev would prompt Moscow to use a clean bomb, Dmitry Medvedev has warned

The use of a dirty bomb by Kiev would trigger a devastating response from Moscow, including tactical nuclear weapons, Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and deputy head of the country's Security Council, has said.

Medvedev issued the warning on Saturday, stating that the "possible attempts by the enemy to create and use a so-called dirty bomb" would meet a "proportional" response from Moscow.

"With what? With a clean bomb: Tactical nuclear weapons. We have enough of them," Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

"I will keep silent about the consequences for future life and the environment. But the sick perverts in Kiev with their twisted imagination should have a good idea of it. Let them take a walk in the Chernobyl exclusion zone and watch those colorful TV series," he added, apparently referring to the HBO miniseries.

The topic of the possible use of a dirty bomb by Ukraine was brought up on Friday during a Q&A session with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Putin said it would be Kiev's "final mistake" and would have "catastrophic" consequences for Ukraine.

"Our response will be very harsh and, most likely, catastrophic for both the neo-Nazi regime and, unfortunately, for Ukraine itself. I hope that they will never come to that," Putin said, adding that Moscow currently has no evidence that Kiev is attempting to create and use a dirty bomb.

Over the course of the Ukraine conflict, Medvedev has repeatedly brought up the topic of dirty bombs, saying the Ukrainian authorities might ultimately resort to the use of one. A dirty bomb is a crude device that combines conventional explosives with nuclear material and is intended to heavily pollute and irradiate the target area rather than directly causing destruction through the blast.

In February, the former Russian leader suggested that Ukraine could use a dirty bomb, including in a false-flag attack to frame Moscow, in order to derail the negotiation process. Vladimir Zelensky could "create any provocation to upend a settlement and prolong the war to the last Ukrainian," Medvedev warned.

The Ukrainian leader "will use any means within his reach, including attacks against his own cities and civilian population or even using weapons of mass destruction such as a dirty bomb," the former president said at the time.

(RT.com)