U.S. Sending Depleted Uranium Ammo To Kyiv

The US will soon send armor-piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to aid Ukraine's war effort.

The munitions use depleted uranium (DU), a by-product from uranium enriched for use in nuclear reactors or nuclear weapons. I Photo: Boksi Wikimedia Commons

This news, revealed by Reuters, marks the first time the US has sent the controversial rounds to Ukraine. Tessa Flemming reported for the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC).

The munitions use depleted uranium (DU), a by-product from uranium enriched for use in nuclear reactors or nuclear weapons. The DU is still radioactive but has a much lower level of the isotopes U-235 and U-234 than natural uranium ore.

The metal is used in weapons because it is dense and can self-ignite at high temperatures and pressures.

At these temperatures, it becomes sharper—a phenomenon called "adiabatic shearing"—and penetrates armor plating like that found on military tanks, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Armor made of DU is also more resistant to penetration from traditional anti-armor ammunition.

The IAEA says there is no evidence DU is a "definite cancer risk," despite its potential to be carcinogenic. One of the officials said that the coming aid package will be worth between $240 million and $375 million ($371-$580 million).

WEEKLY FEATURE : Jose Mari Chan And The Christmas Anthem