UK acknowledges there are already depleted uranium weapons in Ukraine

The UK government has started shipments of depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine, but the Ministry of Defence insists it has no obligation to help clean up areas contaminated by the weaponry. Heappey has confirmed that DU munitions for the UK-made Challenger 2 tank have already arrived in Ukraine, and that the weapons are now under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). Heappey has claimed that the health and environmental risks posed by depleted uranium are "low," but recent research suggests the munitions could carry health hazards after all. The US used DU ammunition heavily during its two wars in Iraq, with some researchers claiming it could be linked to birth defects. However, both the US and UK governments have long disputed the alleged dangers.

In March, British and American advisers oversaw special training for Ukrainian troops for how to handle DU rounds, which will primarily be used for the Challenger 2 tank. Moscow has condemned London for "absolute recklessness, irresponsibility and impunity" and the Russian military warned that the use of uranium shells is likely to cause irreparable harm to the health of Ukrainians and inflict economic damage to the agro-industrial complex.