Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov constantly declares the flow of lethal weapons to Ukraine, and Washington claims that the use of depleted uranium shells is “common”.
The Russian ambassador to the United States of America, Anatoly Antonov, said yesterday, Wednesday, that Western countries, led by Washington, have decided to push humanity to the brink of a “nuclear catastrophe” by declaring their intention to provide Ukraine with depleted uranium munitions.
Responding to US officials’ statements that “depleted uranium” munitions are a standard type of weapon used for decades and pose no radiological hazard, he added, “It’s really difficult to comment on this kind of nonsense. US officials have reached a new level with their irresponsible statements.”
“There is a constant flow into Ukraine of lethal weapons, which are used to exterminate civilians and residential areas,” he said in a statement on the Russian Embassy in Washington’s Facebook page.
And he added, “It seems that the enlightened West, led by Washington, has decided irrevocably to put humanity in a dangerous line behind which a nuclear catastrophe looms more clearly than ever.”
British Deputy Defense Secretary Annabelle Goldie said a few days ago: “In addition to providing combat tanks to Ukraine, Britain will provide Kiev with ammunition, including armor-piercing ammunition that contains depleted uranium.”
Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to respond to Britain’s intention to send weapons containing depleted uranium to Ukraine, adding: “Thus, the West will be the first to use weapons that contain a nuclear component.”
Western countries want to send depleted uranium to Kiev, because it is able to penetrate tanks and armor more easily, due to its density and other physical properties. However, depleted uranium represents a major health hazard at its use sites, because the dust resulting from it leads to distortions and major health damage.
Washington: Depleted uranium shells are “common” and have been in use for decades
On the other hand, the coordinator of the US National Security Council for Strategic Communications, John Kirby, stated that depleted uranium shells are a common type of ammunition, and have been used for decades, commenting on the UK’s decision to export these shells to Ukraine.
“This type of ammunition is fairly familiar and has been used for decades,” Kirby told reporters yesterday, commenting on Britain’s decision.
Yesterday, the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said that the West’s continued supply of weapons to Ukraine could lead to a nuclear war.
Source: Al Mayadeen