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Russia Accuses UK, France of Nuclear Aid to Ukraine

Published 24 February 2026

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service has accused Britain and France of actively planning to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons or components for a dirty bomb, a move officials in Moscow described as a desperate bid to alter the course of the ongoing conflict. The allegations, released on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, claim the two nations aim to provide Kyiv with a so-called miracle weapon to secure better terms in potential peace negotiations.

According to a statement from the SVR, British and French officials are considering the covert transfer of European-made components, equipment, and technologies to Ukraine. As one option, the agency pointed to the French TN75 warhead, a small-size device used in the M51.1 submarine-launched ballistic missile. Another possibility involves assisting Ukraine in developing a dirty bomb, a conventional explosive laced with radioactive materials intended to spread contamination over wide areas. The SVR said London and Paris are also preparing an information campaign to portray any resulting nuclear capability as entirely Ukrainian-developed, thereby concealing Western involvement.

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