2023-09-07 09:22:53
Washington will supply Ukraine with controversial depleted uranium munitions due to their toxic risk.
The United States will provide Ukraine with anti-tank ammunition containing depleted uraniumas part of new aid, announced Wednesday, totaling $ 1 billion and supposed to give “new impetus” to the counter-offensive against Russian forces.
The aid was announced in Kyiv by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Wednesday. “Progress on the ongoing counter-offensive has accelerated in recent weeks and this new aid will help give it new momentum,” he told a press conference, alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro. Kouleba.
The strictly military part, amounting to 175 million dollars, provides for the delivery of 120 mm ammunition containing depleted uranium and intended for American Abrams battle tanks (…).
What exactly does this aid from Washington include?
In addition to anti-tank ammunition, it includes in particular $300 million for civil security in liberated areas, $206 million in humanitarian aid, $200 million to support local institutions, $90 million for mine clearance and $100 million to finance future purchases of military equipment.
The strictly military component, amounting to $175 million, provides for the delivery of 120mm ammunition containing depleted uranium for US Abrams main battle tanks, promised in kyiv, the Pentagon said in a statement. These tanks should arrive sometime in the fall.
The United States will also provide missile defense systems including Himars multiple rocket launchers and communications equipment, drawn from its current stocks.
What risk?
This is the first time that the United States intends to deliver to Ukraine such depleted uranium munitionswhich are able to pierce armorbut are controversial because of the toxic risks for the military and the population.
Moscow highlights the risks associated with “moving radioactive clouds” caused by the explosions of these weapons.
Uranium is an extremely dense metal that does not deform when it comes into contact with its target. It is thus used in armor-piercing shells and bombs to make them more penetrating.
These ammunition are in equipment in many armies, in particular American and Russian. Their use is not not prohibited by international law.
The United Kingdom had already announced, several months ago, its intention to deliver depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine, an initiative then denounced by Moscow, which threatened to use it too.
How did Moscow react?
The Russian Embassy in the United States denounced, on Wednesday, the supply of ammunition to kyiv, qualifying this future aid as “clear sign of inhumanity”.
Moscow highlights the risks associated with “moving radioactive clouds” caused by the explosions of these weapons. “The United States is deliberately transferring weapons with indiscriminate effects,” the embassy criticized.
According to her, Washington “refuses to accept the failure of the so-called counter-offensive of the Ukrainian armed forces” and is ready to “write a cross on future generations”.
Where is overall US aid?
About two months ago, the United States had already lifted another taboo by delivering cluster bombs to Ukraine, a decision criticized by NGOs.
The new US aid comes as the Ukrainian armed forces wage a difficult counter-offensive to dislodge the Russians in the south and east of the country. The head of American diplomacy estimated that the latter was making “very encouraging” progress.
The United States leads an international coalition in support of Ukraine, and has pledged over $43 billion in military aid to Kyiv since the start of the conflict in February 2022.
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