Are UK-made uranium weapons contributing to the conflict in Ukraine?

This comes after the Secretary of State in the British Ministry of Defense, Baroness Annabelle Goldie, revealed that her country is seeking to transfer depleted uranium ammunition to Kiev, as part of its efforts to provide a squadron of “Challenger 2” combat tanks to Ukraine, including “armor-piercing missiles.”

And she explained in her statement, in response to a question from a member of the House of Lords, Lord Hilton, who was seen by “Sky News Arabia”, that “these missiles will be delivered for use with the” Challenger 2 combat tanks,” considering that such missiles are “extremely effective in defeating modern tanks and vehicles.” Armored”.

As soon as the British move was announced, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to “respond” if London proceeded with its plan, while his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned of a possible “nuclear clash” between Moscow and the West.

Putin said, “This step heralds the West’s shift to providing Kiev with weapons that contain nuclear components… If that happens, Russia will be forced to respond.”

What are depleted uranium ammunition?

• The United Nations says that depleted uranium is a toxic heavy metal and is the main by-product of uranium enrichment, as the leftover material after the removal of most highly radioactive uranium isotopes for use as nuclear fuel or in nuclear weapons.
• Depleted uranium has the same chemical toxicity characteristics as uranium, but it is less radioactive.
• Due to its high density, about twice that of lead, depleted uranium is used in munitions designed to penetrate armor.
• It can also be used to reinforce military vehicles such as tanks. Munitions containing depleted uranium explode on impact and release uranium oxide dust.
• In the past three decades, depleted uranium shells have been the preferred choice for both the United States and Britain’s militaries
• With twice the density of lead, and as hard as hardened steel, depleted uranium has powerful armor-piercing capabilities.
• On impact, depleted uranium bullets keep their shape better, while penetrating armor, the uranium burns white, often causing a raging fire in fuel tanks or ammunition magazines.
• There is no international ban on the use of tank-penetrating rounds made from depleted uranium, a by-product of uranium enrichment.

Yugoslavia scenario

• Munitions containing depleted uranium were used during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 during the Kosovo War, where approximately 15 tons of depleted uranium were dumped in 3 months.
• About 3,000 cruise missiles were launched and 80,000 tons of various bombs were dropped, including cluster munitions and depleted uranium bombs.
• This caused the country’s rivers to be polluted with toxic chemicals, while the number of victims was estimated at between 3,500 and 4,000 people who were killed and about 10,000 wounded in those strikes.
• Subsequently, Serbia had the highest rate of malignancy in Europe, with more than 30,000 people diagnosed with cancer in the first ten years since the bombing.
• These munitions raise controversy that they could be directly linked to leukemia, kidney damage and lung cancer.

Risks and fears of London’s move

For his part, Russian military expert Konstantin Sivkov considered that the use of depleted uranium munitions threatens the lives of civilians living in the area of ​​military operations, and can cause nuclear contamination and increase the number of cancer cases.

Whereas, the researcher specializing in defense policies, Muhammad Hassan, explained in statements to “Sky News Arabia” that Britain still tops the list of countries that provide military aid to Ukraine in terms of quality, as it is the first country to provide Kiev with main battle tanks, in addition to training forces. Ukraine on trench warfare inside its territory, and then the step of providing it with armor-piercing munitions containing depleted uranium.

He pointed out that depleted uranium ammunition is considered one of the most dangerous types of ammunition designed to penetrate thick armor and cause severe damage to armored vehicles, armored vehicles, tanks, infantry fortifications, buildings and facilities as well.

These shells are not limited to tank shells, but also include multi-caliber machine guns, especially those operating aboard frigates and warships, as uranium shells provide the advantage of melting thick shielding up to 450 mm, according to the military researcher.

impact on the battlefield

• The researcher, who specializes in defense policies, determined the consequences of Britain’s use of these missiles in Ukraine, as follows:
• The entry of this type of missile into the Ukrainian field means a change in the rules and controls of the field in terms of armament, and a change that threatens the balance of risk and the red lines, and accordingly the system of deterrence and mutual shield, which prevents the war in Ukraine from breaking out into a state of comprehensive destructive confrontation between the international powers.
• Transitioning the level of armament of the Russian forces in the Donbass and its demarcation lines to include nuclear and chemical warfare measures, in a more precise sense that the mechanized infantry formations will deal with additional precautionary measures and may lead to a stalemate in field advances towards the major cities of both teams.
• Increasing mobile missile artillery strikes on targets in the center, depth, and the infrastructure of the Ukrainian military industry and its logistical points.
• Threatening the position of western Ukraine, as it is one of the most secure and most important Ukrainian regions in receiving and possessing Western weapons flowing through the Polish mainland.
• The transition of the battle in Ukraine from trench warfare similar to the First World War, to a war of cruise missiles directed against armor, to armored vehicles and tanks against TOW, Javelin and Kornet missiles, and flocks of commercial marches that are being modified to drop hand and incendiary grenades.