Russian forces have long been using depleted uranium shells – Center for Countering Disinformation

This is reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation.

Russian propaganda immediately began to manipulate the issue of providing the Ukrainian army with depleted uranium shells, threatening environmental consequences, and claiming an allegedly high risk of cancer.

The Center for Countering Disinformation refutes these manipulations: "Although the UN is against the supply of such shells to Ukraine, their use is not prohibited by international law, and the IAEA states that depleted uranium residues dispersed in the environment do not pose a radiological hazard to the population of the affected regions'"

However, the IAEA emphasizes that depleted uranium can be dangerous if its particles get into the body.

But the Russian military itself uses these shells on the battlefield, as confirmed by a number of military experts and publications, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has spoken about their presence in Russia and the United States has confirmed it.

Official Russian media reported that their modernized tanks, in particular the T-80BV, could fire depleted uranium shells. And propaganda channels disseminated instructions on how to destroy Leopard tanks with 125-mm ZBM60 Svinets-2 shells, which are a type of depleted uranium tank munition.

Russia is trying to destabilize the situation in Ukraine and spread panic among the civilian population through such manipulations.

The Center for Countering Disinformation explains that "depleted uranium shells will help Ukraine destroy Russian tanks more effectively on the battlefield, and the UK has recommended using these shells on British Challenger heavy tanks, and the US – on American-made Abrams tanks."

For reference. Depleted uranium is a metal, namely the residue that is formed during the production of nuclear fuel. It is 70% denser than lead, which is used in traditional ammunition. Due to the high density of this metal, it is used for military purposes, in particular to penetrate tank armor.

• The US Department of Defense expressed confidence that Ukrainian troops would use depleted uranium munitions responsibly, i.e., to liberate their territory.