Cezary Aszkielowicz/ Agencja Wyborcza.pl via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Wednesday announced a new security assistance package worth up to $175 million for Ukraine, including depleted uranium ammunition for Abrams tanks, the first time the U.S. is sending the controversial armor-piercing munitions to Kyiv.
Reuters was first to report last week that the rounds, which could help destroy Russian tanks, would form part of a new military aid package for Ukraine, which Russian forces invaded in February 2022.
Although Britain sent depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine earlier this year, this would be the first U.S. shipment of the ammunition and will likely stir controversy.
Washington previously announced it would send cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite concerns over the dangers such weapons pose to civilians.
The use of depleted uranium munitions has been fiercely debated, with opponents like the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons saying there are dangerous health risks from ingesting or inhaling depleted uranium dust, including cancers and birth defects.
Persons:
Cezary, Wyborcza.pl, Antony Blinken's, Blinken, Washington, Costas Pitas, Mike Stone, Kanishka Singh, Ronald Popeski, Rami Ayyub, Eric Beech, Grant McCool
Organizations:
Abrams, REUTERS Acquire, Pentagon, Reuters, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, International Coalition, Thomson
Locations:
U.S, Szczecin, Poland, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Ukrainian, Washington, United States