The Biden administration will for the first time send controversial armor-piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to Ukraine, according to a document seen by Reuters and separately confirmed by two U.S. officials.

The use of depleted uranium munitions has been fiercely debated, with opponents like the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons saying there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust, including cancers and birth defects.

  • flying_monkies@kbin.social
    21·
    1 year ago

    Depleted utanium is a war crime

    Actually, it’s not. Quoted from the British article about the DU rounds they’re shipping for the Challenger 2s:

    The UK MoD insists that the depleted uranium shells it is sending to Ukraine are not prohibited by any international agreement.

    It says that under Article 36 of the First Protocol of 1977 Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the UK’s depleted uranium shells are “capable of being used lawfully in international armed conflict”.

    President Vladimir Putin has warned that if the UK does send depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, “Russia will have to respond accordingly, given that the West collectively is already beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component”.

    The MoD replied in a statement: “The British Army has used depleted uranium in its armour-piercing shells for decades. Russia knows this, but is deliberately trying to disinform.”

    Stating the use of DU is a war crime is just Russian mouthpieces repeating Kremlin lies.

      • flying_monkies@kbin.social
        3·
        1 year ago

        While the British don’t know as much about war crimes as the Russians, this time they’re technically correct. Technically correct is the best correct.

            • slice1@lemmy.ml
              2·
              1 year ago

              Yes, nothing wrong with hiding behind some self percieved “correctness” (actshually…) to justify pollution that causes helth issues for generations. But I am so glad you are “technically correct” - how would you sleep otherwise?