MOSCOW, October 23. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has held phone talks with French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu to discuss the situation in Ukraine and told him Ukraine could stage a provocation using a dirty bomb, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Sunday.

"Phone talks between Russian Defense Minister Army General S. K. Shoigu and French Defense Minister S. Lecornu were held on October 23. A discussion was held about the situation in Ukraine, which has a steady trend toward a further uncontrolled escalation," the ministry said.

The ministry said Shoigu conveyed his concerns to the French counterpart about possible provocations using a dirty bomb by Ukraine.