Despite some reservations from authorities, the U.S. is likely to deploy depleted uranium shells to Ukraine along with the dozens of tanks the nation will get later this year.
The U.S. military frequently uses the cutting-edge shells for anti-armor employment because they have unequalled penetrating strength. Although some members of the government have expressed concerns about the shells’ potential impacts on human health and the environment, the Defence Department under President Biden has vigorously advocated for sending them to Ukraine with American tanks, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Although depleted uranium shells are not radioactive, if shrapnel becomes lodged in the body, there may be some aftereffects. The U.K.’s delivery of the same shells has also been used by Russia to charge Western nations with providing Ukraine with “weapons with a nuclear component.”
Former Army artillery officer Scott Boston told WSJ that “the projectile hits like a goods train.” It is extremely lengthy and dense. As a result, it concentrates a lot of kinetic energy on a single spot on an enemy’s armour array.
Later this year, the United States will send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, and the Defence Department is trying to include depleted uranium ammunition in the shipment. (Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
After Europe provided a large number of Leopard II tanks produced in Germany earlier this year, the U.S. is prepared to ship 31 M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine by this autumn, enhancing the country’s armoured capabilities.
Currently, Ukrainian soldiers are receiving instruction in Germany on how to operate and maintain Abrams vehicles. The Pentagon initially hesitated to ship the turbine-engine combat tanks to Ukraine because they are highly sophisticated and require expert maintenance.
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In the Donetsk area of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces go atop an APC towards front-line positions close to Vuhledar. (AP Photo/Libkos)
The Abrams tanks are capable of long-range penetration of even the thickest armour on Russian tanks when armed with depleted uranium ammunition.
Ukraine has already begun using the armoured vehicles it received from the West in a significant counteroffensive that was initiated last week. Over the past week, Ukrainian forces using Leopard II and Bradley combat vehicles have retaken seven villages from Russian forces, but the counteroffensive has not yet achieved a significant advance across Russian lines.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, travels to a flooded area this month as a result of the Nova Kakhovka dam failure. (Reuters/Stringer)
The gains made by Ukraine, which have not been verified, were not affirmed by Russian officials. Small territorial advances only served to highlight how difficult the war will be for Ukrainian forces, who will have to fight to retake the nearly one-fifth of their country that is currently under Russian occupation.
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