Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky refuted the claims by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu that Kyiv had prepared a provocation with the use of a "dirty bomb". If Russia calls and says that Ukraine is allegedly preparing something, it means one thing: Russia has already prepared all this. I believe that now the world should react as harshly as possible", Volodymyr Zelensky said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for the second time in three days, Interfax reported. Earlier, Sergei Shoigu spoke with the Ministers of Defense of Turkey, France and Great Britain to convey Russia’s concerns over possible provocations by Ukraine with the use of a "dirty bomb".

Secretary Austin rejected any pretext for Russian escalation and reaffirmed the value of continued communication amid Russia’s unlawful and unjustified war against Ukraine, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Great Britain’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also refuted Sergei Shoigu’s claims and cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation.