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Britain's decision to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine will have grim consequences
Depleted uranium, infamous for its use in the Gulf war, could harm both sides fighting, not just Russian troops, and contaminate the region for civilians and nature for decades, warns KATE HUDSON
The use of depleted uranium causes toxic or radioactive dust to be released and if this is subsequently inhaled or ingested in other ways, it has very significant negative health consequences.
19.01.1930-23.04.2026
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IN a shocking development, the government has announced it will be sending depleted uranium (DU) rounds to Ukraine along with Challenger 2 tanks.
As we know from several wars in the past few decades, the health consequences for Ukrainian civilians will be high. DU is a chemically toxic and radioactive heavy metal and it’s a by-product of the enrichment process used to make reactor-grade uranium.
Its chemical and physical properties have made it popular for a range of military and commercial uses: its density and its ability to self-sharpen attracted the attention of the US Department of Defence (DoD) in the late 1950s. The military was looking to increase the armour-piercing capacity of munitions and to strengthen the armour of tanks.
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