On the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale conflict in Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has issued a provocative statement claiming that the United Kingdom and France are actively preparing to arm Ukraine with nuclear weapons or a so-called “dirty bomb.” The allegations, released through Russian state media outlets such as TASS and Sputnik, have raised tensions amid the ongoing conflict but remain unverified and have been met with skepticism from Western sources.
According to the SVR press bureau, British and French “elites” are unwilling to accept defeat in the war and view the provision of nuclear capabilities to Kyiv as a “wonder weapon” (Wunderwaffe) that could allow Ukraine to negotiate more favorable terms to end hostilities. The statement asserts that London and Paris recognize the impossibility of achieving victory over Russia through conventional Ukrainian forces alone.
The SVR specifically alleged covert transfers of European components, equipment, and technologies to Ukraine. It highlighted the French TN75 compact warhead—used on the M51.1 submarine-launched ballistic missile—as one potential option under consideration. The agency claimed Western efforts are focused on disguising any such acquisition as an independent Ukrainian development, thereby shielding the UK and France from direct responsibility.
“The British and French are aware that their plans imply a gross violation of international law, primarily the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and run the risk of destroying the global non-proliferation system,” the SVR statement read. It added that Germany had “wisely refused to participate in this dangerous adventure.”
The claims coincide with the war entering its fifth year, a period marked by intensified Western military support for Ukraine—including long-range weapons and air defense systems—but no public indications of nuclear transfers. Ukraine relinquished its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal in the 1990s under the Budapest Memorandum, in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the US, and the UK, and joined the NPT as a non-nuclear state.
Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, described the information as “extremely important” due to its implications for nuclear non-proliferation and European stability. The Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) called for international investigations by bodies such as the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into the alleged plans.
No immediate responses have been reported from the UK or French governments to the SVR accusations. Western media outlets reporting on the statement, including The Guardian and Anadolu Agency, have described the claims as unsubstantiated or unfounded, noting the absence of any supporting evidence provided by Russian intelligence.
The timing of the announcement—on the anniversary of the invasion—has fueled speculation that it forms part of broader Russian information efforts to escalate rhetoric around nuclear risks in the conflict. Past Russian statements on nuclear issues have often been viewed by analysts as attempts to deter deeper Western involvement or to justify Moscow’s own military posture.
As the war continues with heavy casualties on both sides and no clear path to resolution, the SVR’s allegations add another layer of escalation to an already volatile situation. International observers continue to monitor developments closely, amid ongoing concerns about nuclear rhetoric and proliferation risks in the region.