Russia has accused the UK of being ready to arm Ukraine with a nuclear bomb in order to win the war. As the world is marking the fourth anniversary of the unlawful invasion of Ukraine, ordered by Vladimir Putin in 2022, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Russia released the unfounded allegation against Britain and France. 

The agency claimed, without providing evidence, that London and Paris were considering covertly supplying Kyiv with nuclear technology and delivery systems. The statement specifically referred to a French TN75 nuclear warhead used on submarine-launched ballistic missiles. It alleged Ukraine could be equipped with either an atomic weapon or a so-called “dirty bomb”, a charge Western officials have repeatedly dismissed as disinformation. The agency said this was intended to make any future nuclear capability appear to be the result of Ukrainian development. UK and French authorities have not announced any such plans, and both countries are signatories to international nuclear non-proliferation agreements.

The Russian agency also claimed Germany had refused to participate in what it described as a “dangerous adventure”.

It further alleged Western governments were seeking to secure more favourable terms for Kyiv in any eventual end to the fighting.

The statement warned the alleged plans would violate international law and risk undermining the global non-proliferation system.

It added that, in its view, such actions would eventually become public and those responsible would face accountability.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, triggering the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.

The war has since killed tens of thousands, displaced millions of civilians and continues along eastern and southern front lines without a decisive breakthrough.

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In the message, the agency said the alleged plans showed what it described as a “loss of a sense of reality” by Western leaders. It also claimed there were officials within the UK and France who understood the risks posed by such actions.

The SVR said the appearance of nuclear weapons in Ukraine was intended to be presented as the result of Ukrainian research and development. It alleged European-made components and equipment could be covertly transferred to Ukraine to enable this.

The agency said such plans would pose a danger to global security and the wider international community.

It insisted the alleged actions would not remain secret and would ultimately come to light.

The agency also claimed there were “sensible people” within British and French political and diplomatic circles who recognised the risks.

Western governments have previously accused Moscow of spreading false narratives about Ukraine and nuclear weapons during the conflict.