Igor Kirillov, the head of the RCBZ troops, noted that in 8% of cases of the disease led to deathMOSCOW, March 24.
/tass/. The use of depleted uranium ammunition caused an increase in the number of oncological diseases among NATO servicemen who took part in military campaigns in Iraq and Yugoslavia. This was stated on Friday by Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological protection troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
"In the countries of the former Yugoslavia, there is also an increase in the number of oncological diseases by 25%. NATO servicemen who took part in military campaigns in Iraq and Yugoslavia became victims of the irresponsible policy of their own leadership," Kirillov said during a briefing on the consequences of supplying depleted uranium ammunition to the Kiev regime.
According to him, in the report of the Chief Military Medical Inspector of Italy from 2016, it is reported that 4,095 servicemen of the national armed forces involved in the Balkans (1994-1999) and in Iraq (in 2003) in areas where depleted uranium ammunition was used by the alliance forces, malignant tumors of various types were subsequently detected.
"At the same time, in 8% of cases (330 people), the diseases ended in a fatal outcome. In addition, remaining in the soil, uranium compounds for a long time retain the danger of negative effects on people, animals and agricultural crops," Kirillov stressed.
"The main radiation hazard from depleted uranium occurs if it enters the body in the form of dust," Kirillov said.
The head of the RCBZ troops explained that as a result of the impact of a depleted uranium munition, a mobile hot cloud of a finely dispersed aerosol of uranium-238 and its oxides is formed, which, when exposed to the body in the future, can provoke the development of serious pathologies. According to him, alpha radiation streams from small uranium particles deposited in the upper and lower respiratory tract, lungs and esophagus cause the development of malignant tumors. Accumulating in the kidneys, bone tissue and liver, uranium dust leads to changes in internal organs.
Kirillov recalled the use of depleted uranium aviation ammunition by NATO forces during the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999. In total, about 40 thousand armor-piercing aviation shells with a total amount of depleted uranium of more than 15 tons were used on the territory of this country.
The Lieutenant General also cited data from the Iraqi government, according to which in 2005 the incidence of cancer in the country as a result of the use of depleted uranium ammunition increased from 40 to 1,600 cases per 100 thousand population. In this regard, Baghdad filed an official lawsuit with the International Arbitration Court in Stockholm on December 26, 2020 against Washington, demanding compensation for the damage caused.