The US is sending depleted uranium ammunition in its latest military aid package to Ukraine. Photo/Illustration/Sindonews
WASHINGTON – United States of America (US) confident military Ukraine will use depleted uranium (DU) ammunition responsibly. This was stated by Deputy Press Secretary Pentagon Sabrina Singh.
“I will not preempt any announcement that has not been made by the Pentagon today, but what I will say is that these bullets are standard use on tanks that are not only used by the US, but we will provide them for Ukraine,” Singh said. to CNN quoted from RTThursday (7/9/2023).
“And if these funds are included in the package that will be submitted today or in the coming weeks, we have absolute confidence that Ukraine will use them responsibly,” he added.
The possible DU ammunition shipment was reported by the Wall Street Journal in June and leaked to Reuters last week. This was officially announced on Wednesday afternoon, as part of a new USD 175 million military aid package to Kiev.
A rod made of depleted uranium is used as a kinetic penetrator in the SABOT anti-tank round fired by the M1 Abrams tank. The US promised Ukraine 31 tanks earlier this year, and is expected to deliver the first batch this month.
Britain had delivered DU rounds to Ukraine earlier this year, which were intended for use with its Challenger 2 tank. Both London and Washington have dismissed all concerns and objections regarding the impact of toxic metal dust on human health and the environment, stating that DU is not radioactive.
Critics of the DU ammunition pointed to the drastic increase in cancer rates and birth defects in countries such as Iraq and Serbia, where it was used. They argue that depleted uranium will split into a highly toxic dust if inhaled or handled.
2023-09-07 03:52:45
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