IAEA probes Russia's claim of Ukrainian “dirty bomb”

The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) started inspecting the two sites Tuesday where Russia claims Ukraine is manufacturing “dirty bombs.” A dirty bomb is an explosive laced with radioactive materials. Ukrainian officials requested the inspection, even though the IAEA inspected the site last month. Western nations have rejected Russia’s claim as unsubstantiated and Ukrainian authorities have said Russia likely planned to use a dirty bomb and blame it on Ukraine.

What’s happening on the ground? Russia ordered an evacuation Tuesday of a long strip of territory at the edge of the supposedly annexed region of Kherson. Ukraine said the evacuation amounts to a forced depopulation of occupied territory, which is a war crime. Russia is evacuating those citizens because of the possibility that Ukraine will use “prohibited methods of war,” said Vladimir Saldo, the Russian leader of Kherson. Ukrainian commanders are counter-attacking and trying to drive Russians from the region but said progress is slow because of weather and tough terrain. 

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about the battle for Kherson.