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The UK will send “armor-piercing shells containing depleted uranium” to Ukraine for use in a tank squadron donated by the British Army.
Defense Secretary Baroness Goldie made the confession on Monday in response to a written parliamentary question from colleague Lord Hilton.
Goldie said: “Such shells are very effective against modern tanks and armored vehicles.”
Russia has previously warned that it would regard the use of depleted uranium in Ukraine as a “dirty bomb”.
Kremlin spokesman Konstantin Gavrilov said in January: “If such shells for heavy NATO military equipment are delivered to Kiev, we will consider this as the use of dirty nuclear bombs against Russia, with all the ensuing consequences.”
Depleted uranium projectiles have been linked to cancer and birth defects. They were fired on by allied forces in Iraq.
The projectiles are radioactive, and scientists believe that their toxic effects on human health may be felt long after conflicts have ended.
A White House spokesman declined to confirm whether the US is supplying such weapons to Ukraine when asked by a journalist in January.
The UK will send 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine.
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