Russian defense chief discusses Ukraine war with French, British counterparts
Sergei Shoigu conveys his concerns about possible provocations by Ukraine, says Russian Defense Ministry
A Ukrainian soldier stands guard in front of the building hit by the Russian forces in Kyiv, Ukraine on October 17, 2022
ANKARA
Russia's defense chief discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine with his French, British and US counterparts in separate phone calls, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
Sergei Shoigu expressed his concerns to France's Sebastien Lecornu and UK's Ben Wallace about possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of “dirty bomb,” the ministry said in separate statements.
Dirty bomb or radiological dispersal device is a type of speculative radiological weapon that combines radioactive material with conventional explosives. The purpose of the weapon is to contaminate the area around the dispersal agent/conventional explosion with radioactive material, serving primarily as an area denial device against civilians.
Shoigu also held a phone conversation with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin as they discussed the war in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
It was their second phone call after Friday's conversation, which has been their first phone call since May.
"I emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid the ongoing war against Ukraine," Austin tweeted regarding his phone call with Shoigu on Friday.
The Russian defense chief also held a separate phone call with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar on Sunday.
