On the fourth anniversary of the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), has alleged that the United Kingdom and France are considering supplying Ukraine with nuclear capabilities in what it describes as a “last-ditch attempt” to prevent Kiev’s defeat.
The explosive accusation, carried by Russian state media, claims that elements within the British and French governments have “lost touch with reality” and are weighing options that would amount to a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The treaty, which entered into force in 1970, forms the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
The Allegations
According to the SVR, London and Paris are exploring multiple scenarios. One option allegedly under consideration involves the covert transfer of European-made nuclear-related components, equipment, and technologies that Ukraine could present as domestically developed. Another, more direct option cited by Russian intelligence, is the possible provision of a French nuclear warhead — specifically the TN75 compact warhead used on the M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile.
The SVR further claimed that Western planners are contemplating encouraging Kiev to construct a so-called “dirty bomb” — a conventional explosive device designed to disperse radioactive material. Moscow has repeatedly accused Ukraine in the past of harboring ambitions to build such a device, though Kiev has denied the claims.
In its statement, the SVR asserted that British and French officials are aware such actions would constitute a “gross violation” of international law and could undermine the global non-proliferation framework. It added that Germany had “wisely refused” to participate in any such initiative.
No Evidence Presented
The Russian intelligence service did not provide documentary evidence to substantiate the claims. As of now, neither the British nor French governments have publicly confirmed or responded to the specific allegations. Western officials have consistently maintained that their military assistance to Ukraine remains within the bounds of international law and does not include nuclear weapons.
Analysts note that providing nuclear warheads to a non-nuclear-weapon state would represent an unprecedented breach of the NPT and would fundamentally alter Europe’s security architecture.
Ukraine’s Nuclear History
The controversy revives long-standing debate over Ukraine’s nuclear past. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, nuclear weapons were stationed on Ukrainian territory. However, operational control remained with Moscow. Under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine agreed to transfer the weapons to Russia and accede to the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously referenced the Budapest Memorandum in speeches, arguing that Ukraine’s security guarantees proved insufficient after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022. However, Ukrainian officials have publicly denied pursuing nuclear weapons.
Strategic Context
The SVR’s statement comes amid intensified fighting and mounting economic pressures on Ukraine. Kiev continues to rely heavily on Western military and financial support as the conflict grinds on. Russian officials argue that the West’s increasing involvement — including advanced missile systems and air defenses — signals desperation as the war enters another protracted phase.
Moscow has frequently used nuclear rhetoric during the conflict, warning that Western escalation risks direct confrontation between NATO and Russia. The latest allegations fit into a broader narrative from the Kremlin that portrays the war as a proxy confrontation between Russia and the NATO alliance.
International observers caution that even unverified nuclear accusations heighten tensions in an already volatile environment. Nuclear proliferation experts stress that any move to transfer nuclear weapons technology to Ukraine would trigger severe diplomatic, legal, and strategic consequences worldwide.
China Calls for Non-Proliferation
China’s Foreign Ministry, responding to the broader nuclear discourse surrounding the conflict, reiterated its position that nuclear weapons must not be used and that the global non-proliferation regime should be strictly upheld. Beijing has consistently called for restraint and negotiations while maintaining a complex diplomatic posture toward both Moscow and Kiev.
Information War Dimension
Some analysts view the timing of the announcement — coinciding with the war’s anniversary — as part of the broader information struggle accompanying the military conflict. By raising the specter of nuclear proliferation, Moscow may be seeking to deter deeper Western involvement or rally domestic and international opinion against further NATO support for Ukraine.
As of now, there is no independent confirmation of the SVR’s claims. The allegations nevertheless inject a new layer of tension into the already fraught geopolitical landscape, where nuclear signaling and rhetoric remain highly sensitive.
With the war continuing and diplomatic channels strained, the prospect — even hypothetical — of nuclear escalation underscores the stakes facing Europe and the broader international community.