Russia threatens to 'retaliate' if London supplies depleted uranium ammunition to Kiev

An FV4034 Challenger 2 tank in May 2022. Depleted uranium shells can be used by these British tanks (Illustration image). © Wikimedia Commons CC BY SA 2.0 Airwolfhound

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3 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday threatened to "retaliate" if London supplies Ukraine with munitions containing depleted uranium, in response to statements to that effect by a British official. These include the shells used by British tanks, very powerful ammunition.

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Today it has been reported that the United Kingdom [...] has announced not only the delivery of tanks to Ukraine, but also shells containing depleted uranium [...]. If this happens, Russia will be forced to retaliate," Putin said. "It seems that the West has really decided to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, not in words, but in deeds," the Russian president continued.

On Monday evening, British Deputy Defence Minister Annabel Goldie said in response to a written question from a British parliamentarian that the UK intended to supply Ukraine with shells "containing depleted uranium". "These munitions are very effective in destroying modern tanks and armored vehicles," she said in her written response, explaining that these shells were intended for use with the Challenger tanks that London also intends to deliver.

The British anti-nuclear organization Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament condemned the delivery of munitions with depleted uranium, saying in a statement on Tuesday (March 21st) that it would be an "additional environmental and health disaster for those living at the heart of the conflict".

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Shells that could make it possible to gain the upper hand during tank fighting

So how do depleted uranium shells work? Depleted uranium is a very dense material, much harder than steel. And this makes it possible to pierce the armor. This density of uranium is therefore preferred for the manufacture of anti-tank shells, they are called arrow shells. In the case of a tank shell, the "penetrator" is a sharpened bar of depleted uranium, about 25 centimeters long, placed in the body of the shell. On impact, its energy creates a strong pressure that digs a hole in the armored wall of a tank.

But uranium has the other particularity of having a melting temperature, lower than that of steel, which causes the destruction of the armor and participates in the perforation, by projecting the liquid metal into the cockpit. Inside the affected vehicle, anything flammable will ignite, resulting in the explosion of the main battle tanks seconds after impact.

These depleted uranium arrow shells were widely used in the first Gulf War, but also during the Kosovo War and during the early stages of the Iraq War. Kiev announces a large-scale offensive in the spring and these shells provided by London could make it possible to take the lead during tank fighting. This is deeply feared by the Russian army, which, according to Washington, has already lost more than half of its heavy tanks.

►Also listen: On the 390th day of war, how Europeans support Ukrainians

(

And with AFP)

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  • Russia
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • Vladimir Poutine
  • Defense