The author of the petition points to the danger of environmental pollution for many years to come, the deterioration of agricultural land and the ingress of toxic substances into the human bodyMOSCOW, March 28.
/tass/. A petition to ban the use of depleted uranium ammunition by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has been registered on the website of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Its author points out the danger of environmental pollution for many years to come, the deterioration of agricultural land and the ingress of toxic substances into the human body.
The author of the petition is concerned about environmental pollution when using depleted uranium ammunition. "The use of such ammunition is a crime against humanity and the planet and their use is unacceptable and immoral. I demand to consider this petition positively and take precautions to exclude the possibility of the use of such ammunition by the Armed Forces of Ukraine until the final consideration of the petition," the text of the petition says.
The author notes that the use of ammunition "is not worth harming humanity due to the military use of uranium and other radioactive elements." The petition notes that the use of such projectiles "leads to environmental pollution not only in the area of their use, but can spread uncontrollably through groundwater, the movement of dust and microparticles." "Given the period of decay of heavy metals, such pollution will be long-term for many generations to come. The defeat may also concern agricultural lands, which will either make them unusable, or will serve as an additional way for the spread of toxic substances and their entry into the human body," the author of the appeal said.
So far, 28 people have supported the petition. To be considered by Zelensky, the petition must gain 25 thousand votes, the collection of signatures will continue for another 92 days.
In a written response published last week by British Deputy Defense Minister Baroness Annabel Goldie to a question from a member of the House of Lords of the British Parliament, it is said that the kingdom's authorities will deliver to Ukraine shells containing depleted uranium and having increased efficiency in destroying armored vehicles. At the same time, the British Ministry of Defense called depleted uranium a standard component of armor-piercing ammunition, which has been used for decades.
Commenting on the decision of the British authorities, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would be forced to respond appropriately to the fact that "the collective West is already beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component." The Russian Embassy in the UK warned London against transferring depleted uranium ammunition to Kiev. As emphasized in the comments of the diplomatic mission, this step is fraught with an escalation of the conflict, and the use of such ammunition in Ukraine will affect the health of the local population.
