Radioactive substances could be smuggled out of Ukraine during invasion turmoil and end up being used in ‘dirty bombs’ on UK streets if border controls are not stepped up across NATO countries, nuclear expert warns

Radioactive materials could be smuggled out of Ukraine's besieged nuclear power stations and eventually used to make 'dirty bombs' for terror attacks in Britain if border security on NATO territory is not tightened, a nuclear expert has warned.

Dr. Bahram Ghiassee, a nuclear scientist, warned that the “unprecedented” airstrikes on Ukrainian nuclear power plants by Russian soldiers during the war have “severely” undermined the security of the facilities.

Dr. Ghiassee, an Associate Fellow at the Henry Jackson Society think tank, said this increases the risk of terrorists, proxy groups acting for “enemy states” and organized crime syndicates gaining access to the radioactive materials.

He warned that the terrorists could then smuggle the nuclear material illegally through Europe to Britain, where it could be used for assassinations or to build radioactive “dirty bombs” for terror attacks in major cities such as London.

“Such devices could be used in attacks on busy public events and transport hubs in London and other major cities,” Dr Ghiassee said in a report seen exclusively by MailOnline.

He warned that, given that 45,000 migrants will have entered Britain illegally by 2022, there is a real risk that radioactive materials could be “easily smuggled into the UK for 'malicious activities' including assassination attempts and the construction of 'dirty bombs '.

A Russian soldier guards an area of ​​the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant after taking control of the plant

A worker in a hazmat suit and gas mask is pictured during the command and staff exercises to practice actions in an accident at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant

Dr. Ghiassee urged British and European countries to strengthen their borders to prevent illegal transnational trade in radioactive materials to “protect their national security.”

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and took over one of the world's largest nuclear power plants, the world has watched with bated breath to see if a nuclear catastrophe could occur.

Since Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, Kiev and Moscow have blamed each other for the shelling of the plant and accused each other of nuclear terrorism.

Frequent power outages due to shelling made it impossible to operate the plant safely, and the six reactors have been shut down to minimize the threat of disaster.

But alarmingly, more than 3,000 spent fuel rods containing highly radioactive materials and plutonium are stored in metal barrels in Zaporizhia's towers, which are vulnerable to air strikes.

Dr. Ghiassee said the airstrikes on the nuclear power plant and the resulting damage could make it easier for terrorists or proxy groups acting on behalf of hostile states to illegally acquire the radioactive materials and make nuclear “dirty bombs.”

Such a device – which has long been a nightmare scenario for counter-terrorism experts – combines conventional explosives with nuclear material to disperse a deadly radioactive plume.

Those close to the blast would be killed immediately, while the survivors would be terrified and rush to get away from the fallout – knowing that the material can cause serious diseases such as cancer.

“These radioactive materials could be illegally transported across national borders, posing significant security risks to Ukraine and countries beyond, including Britain,” said Dr Ghiassee, adding that terrorists could use drones to target the nuclear to transport matter.

“Nothing that 45,000 migrants entered Britain illegally in 2022, it is likely that grams of radioactive materials could easily be smuggled into Britain for malicious activity,” he added.

Dr. Ghiassee warned that if Britain and Europe do not tighten their borders, the terrorists could kill their enemies and detonate dirty bombs in major cities across the continent.

'The land and sea borders and border crossings in Great Britain and Europe NATO countries must be strengthened to limit and prevent the illicit transnational trade in radioactive materials and radioactive sources, thus protecting their national security,” said Dr. Ghiassee.

He added: 'Radiation detectors are currently deployed at airports, border crossings and maritime border crossings. However, their deployment in other geographical locations should be considered to increase the effectiveness of preventing and detecting the illicit trade in radioactive materials.”

Dirty bombs have long been feared as a potential weapon of terrorists because their main purpose is to sow panic, confusion and fear by hurling radioactive dust and smoke into the atmosphere.

A local resident passes a private house damaged by the Russian missile attack in Kiev, Ukraine on Monday

Since the start of the large-scale invasion, Russia has accused Ukraine, without providing evidence, that Kiev may be planning to use a “dirty bomb” in the war.

In response, Kiev and its Western allies say the accusation is completely untrue, and that the idea that Ukraine would poison its own territory is simply absurd. They say Moscow could make these accusations to justify its own escalation.

Dirty bombs are relatively primitive, inaccurate weapons. They are much easier and cheaper to build than a nuclear device and also less lethal. Indeed, dirty bombs do not cause a city-flattening nuclear explosion, but are designed to spread toxic waste.

Security experts have long worried about it as a form of terrorist weapon that could be used in cities to cause chaos among civilians.

“They're more of a psychological weapon,” said Scott Roeckner, vice president of the nuclear materials safety program at The Nuclear Threat Initiative. “If you wanted to scare people, intimidate people, you would use a weapon like this.”

The radioactive dust and smoke can travel far and are dangerous if inhaled near the epicenter of the blast. According to Roecker, the radioactive cloud would probably spread over several streets.

But as radioactive material spreads through the atmosphere, it becomes less concentrated and less harmful.

Key factors in radiation exposure are the type of radiation, how long a person is exposed to it, and whether the radiation is absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or consumed orally.

The economic damage can be enormous if urban areas have to be evacuated or even entire cities have to be abandoned.