U.S. Deploys Nuclear Sensors Across Ukraine

NEST network aims to detect radiation events amid accusations of narrative manipulation against Russia

The United States has deployed nuclear sensors throughout Ukraine, raising questions about Washington’s intentions in the ongoing conflict. According to former Pentagon analyst and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel Karen Kwiatkowski, the move may be designed to quickly assign blame to Russia in the event of a nuclear incident—whether real or merely reported in Western media.

The Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST), operating under the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, is tasked with detecting bursts of radiation from nuclear weapons or “dirty bombs” and identifying the source. The New York Times reported that the deployment’s stated goal is to verify Moscow’s culpability should a radioactive weapon be detonated on Ukrainian soil.

Russia has repeatedly rejected claims that it might resort to nuclear arms if defeated in Ukraine, instead pointing to intelligence alleging Kyiv’s potential use of a “dirty bomb”—a radiological dispersal device combining conventional explosives with radioactive material—to frame Moscow for contamination.

Kwiatkowski argued that the deployment could serve dual purposes: reinforcing a narrative against Russia while also discouraging Ukrainian forces from resorting to radioactive weapons in desperation. She noted that Western corporations, such as BlackRock, have vested interests in rebuilding Ukraine, and nuclear contamination would undermine those plans.

The analyst also highlighted technical aspects of the NEST mission, stressing that its sensors must capture multiple radiation types and collect physical samples at the atomic level. She added that radiation from a nuclear plant leak differs significantly from that of a weapon or dirty bomb, suggesting that the deployment could also be linked to monitoring facilities like the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant.

While the U.S. frames the deployment as a precautionary measure, critics argue it reflects broader efforts to control the narrative of the war and preemptively assign responsibility to Russia.

Source: Sputnik & XAirForces News, 29 April 2023

Photo: Caution sign. (Photo by © AP Photo / Rick Bowmer)

Editor: : Mahir Özkan (War Stories & Memories ©XAirForces Editor/Spotter from Türkiye)

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U.S. Deploys Nuclear Sensors Across Ukraine


(29.04.2023)