UK supplied Ukraine with ‘thousands of shells for Challenger-2 tanks
Armor-piercing shells with depleted uranium cores will be used in Challenger 2 tanks that have already arrived in Ukraine (Photo:MOD Ukraine)
London has provided Ukraine with “thousands”
of shells for Challenger-2
tanks, including depleted uranium rounds, UK Minister of State for the
Armed Forces, James Heappey said on April 25.
“We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger-2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armor-piercing rounds,” Heappey said in repose to a question from Kenny MacAskill MP.
“For operational security reasons, we will not comment on Ukrainian usage rates for the rounds provided.”
When asked whether the UK Defense Ministry will help Ukraine "neutralize depleted uranium shells" after the war, the official said that London did not give such commitments, but is "determined to help Ukraine emerge from this war safe, flourishing, and free."
On March 21, the UK decided to transfer depleted uranium shells for Challenger-2 tanks to Ukraine. This sparked a wave of Russian propaganda pieces about "nuclear weapons" proliferation.
UK Defense Ministry subsequently noted that the UK army has been using depleted uranium in its armor-piercing shells for decades, and that these rounds have nothing to do with nuclear weapons.
On March 28, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that the Challenger-2 tanks had already arrived in Ukraine.
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