Moscow has been accused of plotting to detonate a radioactive ‘dirty bomb’ in occupied Ukraine – and blame the attack on Kyiv.

Russia’s defence secretary Sergei Shoigu phoned his British and French counterparts yesterday as Ukrainian troops closed in on the city of Kherson.

In his call to Ben Wallace, he claimed Ukraine would ‘escalate’ the conflict.

And he told Sebastien Lecornu that Kyiv might use a bomb encased in nuclear material that could spread radioactive fall-out across the region.

But Ukrainian foreign minister Dymtro Kuleba dismissed the claims as ‘absurd and dangerous’ and accused the Kremlin of a false flag operation.

‘Firstly, Ukraine is a committed NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty] member: we neither have any “dirty bombs” nor plan to acquire any,’ he tweeted.

‘Secondly, Russians often accuse others of what they plan themselves.’

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said Mr Wallace’s conversation with Mr Shoigu was ‘professional and respectful’ but he had rejected Russia’s claim.

‘He cautioned that such allegations should not be used as a pretext for greater escalation,’ the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, Russia has withdrawn its military officers from Kherson, sending them across the Dnieper river in anticipation of Ukraine’s advance, think tank the Institute for the Study of War said.

Losing the regional capital – held by Moscow since the early days of the eight-month war – would mark a further humiliation for president Vladimir Putin.

The reported retreat – with enlisted men left behind – follows the departure of Russian officials and thousands of civilians. Kherson is one of four regions Putin illegally annexed last month.

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