The US is transferring depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine.

The Pentagon announced it is supplying Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition for use in M1 Abrams tanks, marking the first time Washington has transferred this type of ammunition to Kyiv.

On September 6, the US Department of Defense announced a new security aid package totaling $175 million for Ukraine, which includes depleted uranium (DU) ammunition for the 120 mm cannons on M1 Abrams tanks, as well as ammunition for HIMARS rocket launchers and 155 mm artillery, equipment to support Ukraine's air defense systems, and various other military assets.

The aid falls under the Presidential Resource Adjustment Authority (PDA), which allows the U.S. government to flexibly transfer certain defense resources and equipment to partners in emergency situations without requiring congressional approval.

US soldiers training with the M829A4 kinetic energy penetrator round of the Abrams tank in 2021. Photo: US Army — US soldiers training with the M829A4 kinetic energy penetrator round of the Abrams tank in 2021. Photo: *US Army*

This is part of a larger aid package of over one billion dollars announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Kyiv.

The Russian embassy in the US called the decision to supply DU artillery shells to Ukraine a "sign of inhumanity," emphasizing that Washington "is deceiving itself" by not acknowledging that Kyiv's major counteroffensive has failed.

DU rounds contain a byproduct of uranium enrichment for nuclear fuel and weapons. DU has a radioactive isotope content of U235 below 0.3%, lower than the 0.72% found in natural ore, with the main component being the fissile isotope U238, which has lower radioactivity.

The White House debated for weeks about the possibility of supplying DU ammunition to Ukraine, with some officials arguing that transferring this type of ammunition would draw criticism from Washington due to concerns about its potential environmental and health risks.

In March, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that Russia opposed Western aid to Ukraine in the form of DU munitions because it feared its tanks would be destroyed by them. He also asserted that DU munitions are "quite common and studies indicate they do not pose a radiation threat."

In a report published in 2022, the United Nations Environment Programme expressed concern that the chemical toxicity of DU was the greatest potential hazard, posing a risk of "skin irritation, kidney failure, and increased carcinogenicity."

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stated that DU emits high-energy alpha particles but has poor penetration power, meaning it cannot penetrate clothing or human skin. Health effects primarily occur if the material enters the body through open wounds, the respiratory tract, and the digestive tract.

However, after burning, DU can react with corrosive substances in water and air, forming toxic compounds that can enter the body through food and drink, gradually accumulating in organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys. A study by Harvard University in the US suggests that DU is harmful to both combat soldiers and local residents.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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