On March 21, Britain announced the delivery of tank shells containing depleted uranium to Ukraine. According to the Deputy Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom, Annabelle Goldie, they will go in a “package” with Challenger 2 tanks. How this decision was reacted in Russia and in the West – in RTVI material.
Russian President Vladimir Putin: “It seems that the West has really decided to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian, not in words, but in deeds. <…> Russia will be forced to react, I mean that the Western collective is already beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu: “There are fewer and fewer steps (towards a nuclear collision). <...> They (Western countries) used such ammunition in such events (wars) in Kosovo, Serbia. And then <...> there were consequences for those who used this ammunition, there were serious illnesses. But as always, they cared little about how this ammunition affected those they used it against. <...> This pushes us to think seriously about the sequence of events, what can we answer in general. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Sergei Lavrov “This is a step towards a further increase in climbing, and a serious, high-quality increase in climbing. <...> still remember what results of the use of depleted uranium munitions (were) in Yugoslavia, Iraq, when tens of thousands of civilians, and in fact NATO servicemen who used these munitions in the depleted uranium, have suffered. There was a sharp increase in cancer and other dangerous diseases. The soil has been contaminated for decades. <…> The use of munitions containing depleted uranium will significantly, if at all, reduce Ukraine's ability to produce high quality, uncontaminated food. Official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova : “Yugoslav scenario. Not only do these shells kill, but they infect the environment and cause oncology in people living on these lands. By the way, it is naive to believe that only those against whom all this will be used will become victims. In Yugoslavia, first of all, NATO soldiers, especially the Italians, suffered.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko “And Russia will provide us with ammunition with real uranium. If they (in the West) are mad, they will give impetus to this process. <...> As soon as these munitions explode at the positions of the Russian troops, you will see that the response will be terrible, it will be a lesson for the whole planet. <...> The trend in this war in terms of escalation and there is no need to start. MoD: “The British Army has used depleted uranium in its ammunition for decades. This is a standard component that has nothing to do with nukes or (nuclear) capabilities. Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to misinform. <…> Any impact on human health and the environment from the use of depleted uranium munitions is likely to be small. British Foreign Secretary james shrewdly “There is no nuclear escalation. The only country in the world that talks about nuclear issues is Russia. There is no threat for Russia, it is only for Ukraine to be able to defend itself. <…> (Depleted uranium shells) are not nuclear weapons, they are conventional munitions. Deputy Representative of the UN Secretary General Farhan Haq “We have expressed (concerns) over the years about any use of depleted uranium, given the consequences of such use, and this applies to anyone who supplies such weapons. <…> (We) are concerned about any use of depleted uranium anywhere.
Britain intends to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium shells
On Tuesday, March 21, Britain’s Undersecretary of Defense Annabelle Goldie said that London would supply Kiev with armour-piercing shells containing depleted uranium as well as Challenger 2 tanks. She noted that “these shells are very effective in defeat modern tanks and armored vehicles”.
Ammunition containing depleted uranium, in particular, has been used in the conflicts in Yugoslavia and Iraq. Military expert Vladimir Gundarov noted in a conversation with RTVI that due to their strength they have greater penetrating power, which makes it possible to hit armored targets and long-term shelters more effectively, for example. example of tank armor. At the same time, accumulated nuclides can pose a problem for human health when using depleted uranium munitions, says Gundarov.
At the same time, a former British Army officer, Colonel Hamish of Bretton-Gordon, noted that depleted uranium “cannot be used as nuclear fuel or made into a nuclear weapon”.
