The U.S. presidential administration will send armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium to Ukraine for the first time, they are part of a new military aid package for Ukraine, Reuters reported on Friday.
“The projectiles, which could help destroy Russian tanks, are part of a new military aid package for Ukraine to be unveiled next week. The munitions could be fired from U.S. Abrams tanks, which a source familiar with the situation said are due to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks. One official said the future aid package would range from $240 million to $375 million, depending on what is included,” the report said.
Depleted uranium, is used in munitions because its extreme density gives projectiles the ability to easily penetrate armor and self-ignite in a scalding cloud of dust and metal. Although depleted uranium is radioactive, it is much less so than natural uranium, and also its particles can persist for a considerable amount of time.
Earlier it was reported that the British authorities in April transferred to Ukraine several thousand shells for Challenger 2 tanks, some of which contained depleted uranium.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us-send-its-first-depleted-uranium-rounds-ukraine-sources-2023-09-01/
