MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russia is concerned about information that a Kiev provocation using radioactive materials could take place near Transnistria, where tensions are mounting, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary issued on Wednesday.

"The Russian Defense Ministry previously drew attention to the provocation being prepared by the Kiev regime in order to accuse the Russian armed forces of allegedly carrying out indiscriminate strikes on radiation-hazardous facilities, which could lead to the leakage of radioactive substances and contamination of the area," the diplomat said in connection with information about the Kiev regime's prepared provocation with radioactive materials.

"This information resonated deeply with residents of Ukraine and bordering Eastern European countries. The fact that such events are taking place in close proximity to Transnistria, around which the Kiev regime is deliberately escalating tensions, is quite worrying," the diplomat pointed out.

Zakharova also noted that ports in the Odessa Region that are involved in the grain export deal could have been used for the delivery of radioactive materials to Ukraine. "We have taken note of reports circulating in the Ukrainian media, online and on social media about the delivery of radioactive materials to the Odessa Region’s ports," she added, "We should also remember that the aforementioned ports are part of the grain deal. The question that invariably arises is whether these ports and the humanitarian corridor in general could be used for some other purpose?"

According to Zakharova’s information, on February 16 containers with radioactive substances and English-language markings were delivered to the port of Chernomorsk from the territory of a European state bypassing customs inspection. "On February 19, similar containers containing the radioactive substance California-252, which is reportedly actively used in checking the integrity of nuclear power plant reactors, were delivered to the port of Odessa on one of the dry cargo ships," the diplomat continued, "The radioactive monitoring system was disabled during its reception at the port. As a result of a journalistic investigation, it was established that the supplier of this radioactive substance is the American company Frontier Technology Corp., which is engaged in the production of containers for radioactive isotopes, particularly, sources of neutron radiation. Ukrainian bloggers have expressed concern that there may be some components for ammunition and even perhaps for the manufacture of a dirty bomb."

Irrational actions

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also drew attention to the silence of the Ukrainian authorities, who have not commented on this information in the media and social networks. "Apparently, [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky's regime is ready to use any excuse to escalate the conflict in order to obtain military and financial aid from the West. He does not care that such adventures can lead to catastrophic consequences and numerous deaths," she added.

Zakharova pointed out that Russia warned the Kiev regime against rash actions. "We call on relevant international organizations to pay the closest attention to this information. We warn the Kiev regime and its Western sponsors against any rash actions that endanger the lives and health of thousands of civilians," the diplomat concluded.