Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday held a phone call with his Chinese counterpart and expressed concerns about "possible provocations by Ukraine involving the use of a dirty bomb", Shoigu's ministry said.

Russia first raised the allegation on Sunday that Ukraine was preparing to detonate a radioactive device. Ukraine and its Western allies have strongly rejected that and raised concerns that Russia may use it as a pretext to escalate the war.

Shoigu held a similar call on Wednesday with his Indian counterpart. (Reporting by Reuters)