The delivery of depleted uranium shells would be a “serious” aggravation of the conflict
The delivery by London to Ukraine of ammunition containing depleted uranium, recently mentioned by a British official, would represent a “serious aggravation” of the conflict, the head of Russian diplomacy warned on Wednesday. “It’s a step towards further aggravation, serious aggravation” of the conflict, said Sergei Lavrov during a press conference in Sochi, in the south of Russia, referring in particular to the consequences on the health of the population and a risk of contamination of the soil.
On Monday, British Deputy Defense Minister Annabel Goldie said the UK intended to supply Ukraine with shells “containing depleted uranium”. “These munitions are very effective in destroying modern tanks and armored vehicles”she had pointed out, explaining that these shells were intended for use with the Challenger tanks that London also intends to deliver.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that “Russia will be forced to retaliate” whether such a delivery took place, without providing details. Mr Lavrov said on Wednesday that the use of such shells would have serious health consequences, citing the example of the wars in Yugoslavia in the 1990s where such ammunition was used. “Everyone remembers how during the conflict in Yugoslavia tens of thousands of civilians and those who used this ammunition suffered (…) There has been an increase in cancers, the soil has been contaminated”did he declare.
“The use of depleted uranium munitions will drastically reduce or even destroy Ukraine’s ability to produce uncontaminated food”, added the Russian minister. The British anti-nuclear organization Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament also condemned the delivery of munitions with depleted uranium on Tuesday, saying it would be a “Additional environmental and health disaster for those living in the heart of the conflict”.
Depleted uranium shells are ammunition intended to pierce armor, the use of which is criticized for the risks they would entail for the health of the soldiers using them and the populations living in the targeted areas. According to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), depleted uranium is a “heavy metal, chemically and radiologically polluting”. Depleted uranium munitions had been cited as one of the possible causes of the “Syndrome du Golfe”the health problems of Gulf War veterans in 1991, but this has not been scientifically proven.