The International Court of Justice in The Hague calls for the arrest of the Russian President for crimes in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (21) threatened a “backlash” if London supplies Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition, after a British official said so.
“Today we learned that Britain has announced not only the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but also depleted uranium projectiles. If that happens, Russia will be forced to react,” Putin said.
1 of 1 Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting in Moscow, Russia on March 15, 2023 — Photo: Pavel Bednyakov/Sputnik via Portal Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting in Moscow, Russia on March 15, 2023 — Photo: Pavel Bednyakov/ Sputnik via Portal
What is depleted uranium
Depleted uranium is a byproduct of enriching natural uranium to obtain the isotope 235 U, used in reactors and nuclear weapons.
It consists mainly of the isotope 238 U, which is difficult to fission (breaking an atomic nucleus) and is less radioactive than natural uranium. The material has high density and durability and is therefore used for military purposes.
Weapons that use depleted uranium are projectiles or ammunition that contain this metal in their tip or core. These weapons are capable of penetrating armor and steel structures with ease, as they ignite on contact with air, releasing fragments of depleted uranium into the surrounding area.
These weapons are controversial because of the potential harmful effects of radiation exposure and the toxicity of depleted uranium to human health and the environment.