The US government will supply Ukraine’s military with depleted uranium munitions as part of new military aid it announced yesterday, totaling $1 billion, which it says will give “new impetus” to Ukraine’s counteroffensive to retake territory under its control. of the armed forces of Russia.

The aid was announced in Kiev by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, during a surprise visit, during a press conference, with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba by his side.

It is the first time the US has announced it will supply Ukraine with depleted uranium munitions, capable of penetrating tank armor but controversial because of the toxic risks to military and civilians.

In addition to anti-tank missiles, it will also include $300 million for security in recaptured areas, $206 million for humanitarian aid, $200 million for supporting local institutions, $90 million for demining and explosives disposal, and 100 million dollars to finance future purchases of military equipment.

The strictly military component, worth $175 million, provides for the delivery of 120mm depleted uranium shells for the US Abrams main battle tanks, which Kiev is expected to receive in the fall, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The US will also send anti-missile defense systems, and other munitions for HIMARS multiple launch systems, as well as communications equipment.

Britain already sent such munitions to Kiev earlier this year.

Uranium, an extremely dense metal, does not deform on contact with the target and is therefore used for armor-piercing shells and bombs capable of penetrating thick armor. Ammunition of this kind is available to various armies, including the Russian one. Legally, their use is not prohibited under international law.

When London announced that it would send such munitions to Kiev, Moscow reacted strongly, threatening to use them accordingly.

Moscow called it a “criminal act”.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said today that the US supply of depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine is a “criminal act”, Russia’s RIA news agency reported.

Ryabkov added that Russia still has contacts with the US on humanitarian issues, but does not cooperate with Washington on major issues. “There is no dialogue there,” the Russian deputy minister said, according to the TASS news agency.

The US government will supply the Ukrainian military with depleted uranium munitions as part of new military aid it announced on Wednesday, totaling $1 billion, which it says will give “new momentum” to Ukraine’s counteroffensive to retake Ukrainian territory that controlled by Russia.

The aid was announced in Kiev by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital.

“This is not just an escalation step, but a reflection of Washington’s outrageous indifference to the environmental impact of using this type of munitions in a war zone. It is, essentially, a criminal act, I cannot make any other assessment,” Ryabkov underlined.

The Russian deputy minister repeated Moscow’s warnings about the outbreak of nuclear war due to what he said was Western “pressure” on his country.

“Now this pressure is dangerously balanced on the brink of direct armed conflict between nuclear powers,” he estimated.

Russia has long accused the West of using Ukraine to launch a proxy war aimed at Moscow’s “strategic defeat”. The US and its allies respond that they are arming Ukraine so that it can defend itself against a Russian invasion and reclaim territory seized by Moscow.

Moreover, the development of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is proceeding according to schedule, Ryabkov pointed out.

The Russian embassy in the US already denounced Washington’s announcement yesterday, calling this kind of aid “a clear sign of inhumanity.”

“The US government’s decision to send depleted uranium munitions to Kiev is a clear sign of inhumanity,” he wrote on Telegram, stressing the risk of creating “moving radioactive clouds” from the explosions of these weapons.

These munitions are capable of penetrating tank armor, but are considered controversial because of the toxic risks to military and civilians.

“The US is deliberately transporting weapons that have indiscriminate effects,” the Russian embassy complained.

According to her, Washington “refuses to accept the failure of the so-called counterattack of the Ukrainian armed forces” and is ready to “write off the next generations”.