Russia's foreign minister warned on Wednesday that London's handing over to Ukraine of ammunition containing "depleted uranium" (DU) would represent a "dangerous aggravation" of the conflict. Sergei Lavrov told a news conference in Sochi in southern Russia that "it is a step towards further aggravation, a serious aggravation" of the conflict.
Britain's deputy defence minister, Annabelle Goldie, said on Monday that the UK planned to supply Ukraine with missiles "containing depleted uranium". "This munition is very effective in destroying modern tanks and armoured boats," she said, explaining that these missiles were intended for use with Chalgener tanks, which London also intends to deliver.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated that "Russia will have to respond" in the event of such an extradition, without providing further details. "Everyone remembers how tens of thousands of civilians and those who used these munitions suffered during the conflict in Yugoslavia. There was an increase in cancer cases, and the soil was contaminated."
Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Britain's decision to send the munitions to Kiev would lead to a "global catastrophe". "After depleted uranium, dirty bombs and nuclear weapons could appear in Ukraine," he said.
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, a British anti-nuclear organisation, condemned the delivery of depleted uranium munitions, saying there would be "an additional environmental and health catastrophe for those living at the heart of the conflict".
Shells containing depleted uranium are sharper and ignite in contact with armor (Reuters)
What is depleted uranium?
Depleted uranium projectiles are armor-piercing munitions and their use has been criticized for their risks to the health of soldiers who use them and the population living in targeted areas.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, depleted uranium is "a heavy metal that is chemically and radiologically contaminated."
Munitions containing depleted uranium were included in the list of possible causes of Gulf War syndrome, the health problems that afflicted fighters who participated in the 1991 Gulf War, but this hypothesis has not been scientifically proven.
Depleted uranium is the material left over after most forms of radioactive uranium — known as U-235 — are removed from natural uranium ore.
While U-235 provides fuel used to produce nuclear power and powerful explosions used in nuclear weapons, depleted uranium is less radioactive.
Depleted uranium emits alpha particles that do not have enough energy to pass through the skin, so exposure to it is not very dangerous, yet it can be a serious health risk if swallowed or inhaled.
The International Atomic Energy Agency says depleted uranium is used for armor-piercing weapons and armor itself. Shells containing depleted uranium become sharper and ignite on contact with armor.