The depleted uranium munitions the UK intends to transfer to Kiev are conventional weapons and have been in use for several decades. This statement was made by the Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, during a briefing, the broadcast of which was posted on the official White House website.
“This type of ammunition is a fairly common thing, it has been in use for several decades,” he said, responding to a question about the Russian reaction to British authorities’ plans to send such weapons to Ukraine.
According to him, Washington does not believe that such projectiles can pose a threat to the spread of radioactive substances.
“It is important to remember that there has been public health research on depleted uranium. It poses no radioactive threat and in no way approaches the realm of nuclear weapons,” Kirby added.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would be forced to respond if the UK supplied Ukraine with munitions containing depleted uranium. The head of state noted that the West decided to fight Russia to the last Ukrainian.
In addition, the Russian Ambassador to Serbia, Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko, announced the scientific confirmation of the harms of depleted uranium ammunition. Contrary to the data obtained by the Serbian scientists, NATO said that the use of depleted uranium would not lead to any serious radioactive consequences.
The White House message that depleted uranium shells are “conventional weapons”
