Our antennas go up whenever we hear the term “Uranium” in the context of a war. The nuclear connotations instantly transport us back to the Second World War, when American nuclear bombs flattened the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in seconds. Though there hasn’t been another outright use of a nuclear bomb in a conflict (yet), the term “depleted uranium” has become somewhat of a buzzword in association with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Depleted uranium can be used to make weaponry more lethal
Depleted uranium is naturally occurring uranium that has had most, but not all, of its radiation, removed. Depleted uranium is a waste material produced during the enrichment of uranium for use in nuclear weapons and nuclear power facilities.
Depleted uranium can be used to make weaponry more lethal. It can be applied to tank projectiles, mortar rounds, and even bullets. Such treatment improves the weapons’ ability to penetrate enemy armor, which can be a decisive edge on the battleground. On contact, projectiles with depleted uranium tips can ignite. This lends another dimension to their destructive potential.
Depleted uranium had previously been used in Kosovo (1999) and the Gulf War (1991)
Yes, they were used in the Iraq war. They had previously been used in Kosovo (1999) and the Gulf War (1991). Depleted uranium is classified as a category 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Though reduced uranium has lost most of its radioactivity, it still contains trace amounts. As a result, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommends caution when handling depleted uranium.
A study conducted by a team of researchers from the American University of Beirut and Rutgers University discovered “positive associations between uranium exposure and adverse health outcomes” in the Iraqi population (Refer to ‘Weaponised uranium and adverse health outcomes in Iraq: a systematic review’ by Surdyk et al). The research has been highlighted by the National Library of Medicine. (NLM).
According to the research, opponents of depleted uranium claim that its use led to an increase in the rate of birth defects and cancers in Iraq following the use of such weaponry. According to the researchers, their results imply that US sanctions against Iraq may have played a part in limiting research and publication on the health impacts of weaponized uranium on the Iraqi population.’
For months, the Russian camp has been making nuclear threats, which has alarmed the West
A United Nations study conducted immediately after the war in Kosovo found that if projectiles such as bullets tipped with depleted uranium are lying on the ground and picked up by someone from the local population, it may result in ‘local radiation doses above safety standards.’ This can happen if the bullet is stored in a pocket or worn around the neck in a chain.
Bullets embedded in the ground several meters below the surface, according to the research, pose a “risk of future DU contamination of groundwater and drinking water.” On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an assault on Ukraine. Following sustained gains in the early months of the war, Russian troops were forced to retreat in the face of a Ukrainian counterattack. Conquering Ukraine has not been as easy for Russia as some had predicted.
For months, the Russian camp has been making nuclear threats, which has alarmed the West. Former Russian President and staunch Putin ally Dmitry Medvedev has frequently hinted that Russia was willing to contemplate nuclear options. Medvedev expressed concern last month that the West’s supply of weaponry to Ukraine could lead to nuclear war. “Our enemies are doing just that, not wanting to understand that their goals will certainly lead to a total fiasco. Loss for everyone. A collapse. Apocalypse. Where you forget for centuries about your former life, until the rubble ceases to emit radiation,” he said, as quoted by the daily Izvestia.
Russia is not assisting in preventing a nuclear turn in the Ukraine conflict
In a nutshell, anything ‘nuclear’ signifies a clear and devastating escalation of Ukraine’s current conflict. Uranium, even if depleted, may have thus become an uneasy ‘U-word,’ particularly when both sides are high on war-speak. So far, the West has been generous in providing weapons and other aid to Ukraine, but the supply of depleted uranium weapons may just open a new chapter. Russia is aware of this and has decided to warn the United Kingdom not to supply depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, claiming that they contain a “nuclear component.”
Russia is not assisting in preventing a nuclear turn in the Ukraine conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently declared that Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a nation whose ruling regime is strongly pro-Russian even if its people are not. The world has witnessed the heinous destruction that nuclear weapons can cause. As a result, it is eager to prevent nuclear conflict. The efforts have been effective so far, but everyone is watching the Ukraine conflict with a wary eye. There is still a lot to be seen.