UN Protests Uranium Containing Ammunition Shipment from US to Ukraine

The United Nations (PH) expressed concern following the US Department of Defense's announcement that Washington had shipped munitions containing uranium to Ukraine. The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced Wednesday that the United States will provide uranium-laced tank munitions to Ukraine as part of a new $175 million aid package.

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the United Nations said Wednesday local time, "The United Nations has always been concerned about the use of uranium-containing munitions in any part of the world,". "Our concern about the use of weakened uranium anywhere in the world is consistent and remains as it was before," said Farhan Haq. Earlier, Reuters reported that the Joe Biden administration would provide Ukraine with uranium-containing ammunition for the first time.

The use of munitions containing weakened uranium is one of the most controversial issues, sparking strong opposition from the international community, including the International Coalition to Prohibit Uranium Weapons. Because these weapons are dangerous and cause cancer and the birth of disabled children. In the Persian Gulf wars in 1990 and 2003, the United States used heavily weakened uranium munitions. NATO also used this weapon in the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.

War experience shows that dangerous types of weapons such as cluster bombs, low uranium content munitions kill more civilians than soldiers. The Russian Minister of Defense said that the sea drone (UUV) that the Ukrainian regime used in its terrorist attacks against Russia was manufactured in Odesa province, which is located in the southwest of the country. Al Jazeera TV reports Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defense of Russia in a statement Tuesday (5/9/2023) announcing that sea drones used by Ukraine in terrorist attacks on Russian territory are being built at three wharves in Odessa province.

"Russia's military operations against these Ukrainian military installations will continue," Shoigu said. The Russian Minister of Defense emphasized that Ukraine is using its Black Sea ports to build remote-controlled torpedoes to attack Russian infrastructure. "Whereas Ukrainian ports may not be used to attack Russian infrastructure and build sea drones," he stressed. Sergei Shoigu added that the matter was part of a grain export agreement violated by Ukraine. Over the past few weeks, Ukraine has carried out numerous drone strikes against Russia, most of which were destroyed by Russian forces.