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UK announces deliberately false information spreading by Russia on tank shells containing depleted uranium – media
KYIV. March 22 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Britain has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of deliberately spreading false information about the UK’s decision to send tank shells with depleted uranium to Ukraine, Sky News said, citing the British Ministry of Defense.
“The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said such material is ‘standard’ for rounds that have the ability to pierce through armour and that they have nothing to do with nuclear weapons,” Sky News said in a statement on Wednesday.
As noted, this statement was made after Putin condemned the plan to send such shells to Ukraine, talking about a “nuclear component” – and warned “Russia would retaliate.”
According to the publication, the Kremlin relied on the comments of the British Minister of Defense in a written response to the deputy’s question. U.S. Secretary of Defense Baroness Annabel Goldie said some of the ammunition for the Challenger 2 battle tank that the UK is sending to Ukraine includes armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium.
As explained in the British Ministry of Defense, such a material is used in weapons, because due to its density and other physical properties, it more easily penetrates armor. “Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armored vehicles,” the spokesman said. “It is a standard component and has nothing to do with nuclear weapons or capabilities. Russia knows this but is deliberately trying to disinform,” the Defense Ministry said.
Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former army officer, dismissed the Russian president’s comments as “absolutely bonkers” and “completely wrong.” He said it was no doubt to persuade Chinese leader Xi to give him weapons and to terrify people in the West that he is planning to escalate to nuclear weapons.
