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The unfounded allegation comes as the unlawful invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth year.
08:00, Tue, Feb 24, 2026 Updated: 08:22, Tue, Feb 24, 2026
The Russian foreign intel has accused the UK and France of being ready to arm Ukraine with nukes (Image: Getty)
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. 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 statement suggested the weapons could be made to appear as a domestic Ukrainian development. UK and French authorities have not announced any such plans, and both countries are signatories to international nuclear non-proliferation agreements.
Smoke rises near Kharkiv as Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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.
The claims were published by the SVR on its official website to coincide with the anniversary of the invasion.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in a move that triggered the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
The war has since led to tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of civilians.
Fighting continues along large stretches of the eastern and southern front lines, with neither side securing 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 claimed European components, equipment and technologies could be transferred to Kyiv for that purpose.
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.
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Western governments have previously accused Moscow of spreading false narratives about Ukraine and nuclear weapons during the conflict.
Western governments have repeatedly accused the Kremlin of pushing false nuclear claims about Ukraine throughout the conflict.
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