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Depleted Uranium

All articles tagged with #depleted uranium

military2 years ago

"US Sends Weapons and Aid to Ukraine, Including Depleted Uranium Rounds"

The US is expected to send Ukraine depleted-uranium tank rounds along with M1 Abrams tanks, which are designed to defeat even hard-to-beat armor. These rounds sharpen on impact, are pyrophoric, and more durable than tungsten penetrator rounds. They are more likely to break through even hard-to-beat armor and can cause fires that can ignite ammunition, kill the crew, and destroy the tank more effectively than metal shrapnel alone.

politics2 years ago

Depleted uranium ammo fuels nuclear tensions in Ukraine.

The US is reportedly set to approve the provision of depleted-uranium tank shells to Ukraine, capable of penetrating Russian tank armor. The decision was previously delayed due to concerns over environmental and health impacts. Depleted uranium is a by-product of the nuclear enrichment process and is used because of its density. The UK has already provided Ukraine with the ammunition, which was denounced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. US officials believe it is vital for Ukraine to make decisive gains in its counteroffensive while bipartisan support for the country remains high.

military2 years ago

The Controversial Use of Depleted Uranium Shells by Russia and its Impact.

Russia has a history of using depleted uranium tank rounds, including variants of the "Svinets" rounds, and has upgraded its main battle tanks to fire DU rounds. The UK recently announced it would be providing DU rounds to Ukraine, prompting a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin who claimed there was a "nuclear component" to the delivery. However, the UK Ministry of Defense stated that DU rounds are a standard component and have nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities. There is currently no concrete evidence of Russia using DU in Ukraine, but experts say it would be incongruous if they're not using it.

international-relations2 years ago

"Controversy Surrounds UK's Shipment of Depleted Uranium Shells to Ukraine Amidst Ongoing Conflict with Russia"

Russia plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in response to the UK's announcement that it would supply Ukraine with armour-piercing shells made from depleted uranium. Although the rounds contain trace amounts of radioactivity, Russia has falsely claimed the ammunition contains "nuclear components" to justify its move into Belarus. Depleted uranium has been stripped of most of its radioactivity and is dense enough to pierce many types of armour. The use of such shells has a lasting environmental effect, but Ukraine should use whatever they can to defend themselves.

international-relations2 years ago

Prince William's Visit to Poland and Ukraine Draws Mockery and Surprises.

During his visit to Poland to thank British and Polish troops involved in the war in Ukraine, Prince William was mocked by a Russian official over the UK's plans to send depleted uranium shells to Ukraine. The move has been criticized by Russia, which accused the West of using weapons with a "nuclear component." The UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed that it would provide armor-piercing depleted uranium rounds alongside Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, insisting that the use of uranium is "a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons."

international-relations2 years ago

The Dangerous Impact of Depleted Uranium in Ukraine.

Russia has accused the UK of nuclear brinkmanship after it decided to supply Ukraine with armor-piercing depleted uranium (DU) tank shells. However, DU is incapable of triggering a chain reaction. DU shells have been used for decades, including during the Gulf War in 1991 and in the Balkans in the late 1990s. But these British-supplied shells will only contribute to the toxic legacy that Putin’s war will leave Ukrainians struggling with for decades. DU shells pose hazards to Ukrainian soldiers and civilians alike, although there’s considerable scientific dispute surrounding the level of risk.

military2 years ago

Controversy Surrounds Ukraine's Acquisition of Uranium Tank Rounds from UK

The UK has announced that it will provide Ukraine with tank shells made of depleted uranium, which can pierce through Russian armor. Moscow has criticized the move and threatened to escalate, despite also using the shells. Depleted uranium is a byproduct of the nuclear enrichment process and is highly dense and radioactive. The UK and US have used depleted uranium for decades, and the radiation released is relatively low. Russia's tank force has suffered heavy losses in Ukraine, and depleted uranium shells in the hands of Ukrainian tank operators may make life harder for Russia's armor forces.

military2 years ago

The Controversy Surrounding Depleted Uranium Weapons.

Britain plans to supply Ukraine with armour piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to help destroy Russian tanks. Depleted uranium is a dense by-product left over when uranium is enriched for use in nuclear reactors or nuclear weapons. It is used in weapons because it is so dense, it self-ignites at high temperatures and pressures, and because it becomes sharper as it penetrates armour plating. There has been much study of - and controversy about - the effects of exposure to depleted uranium weapons, especially in the battlefields where such munitions were used in the 1990-1991 Gulf War and in the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

international-relations2 years ago

Depleted Uranium Munitions Cause Tension Between Russia and the West.

The US National Security Council spokesman has suggested that Russian tanks can avoid the British depleted uranium munitions being sent to Ukraine by retreating back across the border. Depleted uranium rounds are 70% denser than lead, producing significantly more kinetic energy, and are particularly effective in piercing enemy armor. The use of depleted uranium rounds has been linked with long-term radiation remnants in affected areas, though it is less clear whether this radiation has adverse effects.

politics2 years ago

The Controversy Surrounding Depleted Uranium Munitions in Ukraine

The UK government has announced it will provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium, a byproduct of the uranium-enrichment process needed to create nuclear weapons. While depleted uranium ammunition is not considered nuclear weapons, their emission of low levels of radiation has led the International Atomic Energy Agency to warn of possible dangers of exposure. Russia has warned of a possible tragedy on a global scale that will primarily affect European countries if the UK provides Ukraine with the ammunition.

international-relations2 years ago

Global Warning: Uranium Ammo in Ukraine Could Have Consequences

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticized the UK's plan to provide Ukraine with ammunition containing depleted uranium, warning that if the UK gave the ammo to Ukraine, Russia would respond by giving Belarus ammo with "real uranium." The UK clarified that the uranium munitions are purely conventional and not nuclear. Depleted uranium is considerably less radioactive than natural uranium, but cancer can be a risk for people exposed to radiation emitted by natural and depleted uranium.

international-relations2 years ago

UK and Russia exchange warnings over depleted uranium weapons.

The UK has denied that its pledge to send munitions containing depleted uranium to Ukraine is a nuclear escalation, after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to react "accordingly". British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the ammunitions are purely conventional and not nuclear munitions. Depleted uranium has been used for decades in modern warfare because of the added penetrating power it provides. Putin has previously justified the use of nuclear weapons against the UK and Ukraine. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has warned against escalating the conflict and called for a peaceful settlement.

international-relations2 years ago

Depleted uranium munitions spark tensions between UK, Russia and US.

Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said there was no nuclear escalation in the Ukraine war after Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised Britain for supplying depleted uranium tank munitions to Ukrainian forces. Cleverly said that Russia was the only country talking about mounting nuclear risks and the ammunition was conventional. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a close Putin ally, also waded into the row on Wednesday, saying Russia would retaliate against the British decision by providing Belarus with ammunition containing "real uranium".

international-relations2 years ago

Russia warns of response if West uses depleted uranium ammunition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to respond "accordingly" if the UK sends ammunition containing depleted uranium to Ukraine. The UK has pledged to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing rounds for Challenger 2 battle tanks. Putin did not clarify if he was suggesting Russia would turn to its nuclear arsenal in response. Depleted uranium is still considered radioactive, and its use in munitions has been controversial due to its potential health hazards. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also ramped up the possibility of a nuclear collision between Russia and the West.