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Ukraine: Depleted Uranium

Question for Ministry of Defence

UIN 174439, tabled on 27 March 2023

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has delivered depleted uranium tank shells to Ukraine.

Answered on

30 March 2023

Alongside our granting of a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, we are providing ammunition including armour piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium. Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles.

The environmental and long-term health effects of the use of depleted uranium munitions have been thoroughly investigated by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environmental Program, the International Atomic Energy Agency, NATO, the Centres for Disease Control, the European Commission, and others, none of which has documented long-term environmental or health effects attributable to use of these munitions.

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