Shoigu tried to intimidate NATO countries into helping Ukraine less

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu likely tried to slow or halt Western military assistance to Ukraine and weaken NATO by intimidating NATO defense ministers on October 23 because Russia is facing military setbacks.

Thus, the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) commented on the fact that Shoigu called at least three defense ministers of NATO states and talked about the so-called Ukrainian “dirty bomb”, writes Ukrainska Pravda.

According to Russian propaganda, Kyiv is preparing to “detonate a nuclear bomb” on its territory in order to accuse Russia of using weapons of mass destruction and turn the whole world against Moscow.

ISW notes that the Russian Ministry of Defense reports on the calls contain minor discrepancies: they claim that Shoigu discussed the “steady trend towards further uncontrolled escalation” in Ukraine in a conversation with his French counterpart; discussed the “situation in Ukraine” and made false claims that Ukraine was preparing to use a “dirty bomb” in conversations with Britain, France and Turkey; and simply discussed the situation in Ukraine without mentioning the “dirty bomb” in a conversation with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Shoigu last spoke to Minister Austin on October 21.

US, UK and Ukrainian officials vehemently denied and condemned Shoigu’s false accusations, and US Defense Secretary Austin called his British counterpart Ben Wallace after speaking with Shoigu.

Shoigu’s comments are unlikely to herald a nuclear attack against one or more major Ukrainian population centers or critical infrastructure in the hope of shocking Ukraine into capitulating or forcing the West to stop aid to Ukraine, according to the American Institute.

In addition, the Kremlin is unlikely to be preparing a false flag dirty bomb attack. Shoigu’s statements are the continuation of a long Russian information campaign. The Kremlin has said Western states will help Ukraine carry out a false-flag WMD attack starting in February. In April, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had information that the United States was “preparing provocations to accuse the Russian Armed Forces of using chemical, biological or tactical nuclear weapons.” Russian propaganda media have repeatedly claimed that Western states support Ukraine’s development of nuclear weapons and are planning false-flag attacks.