MOSCOW – Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the statements by White House official John Kirby, claiming that depleted uranium grenades to be delivered to Ukraine do not pose a radioactive threat, are “lies or nonsense,” and that the question of the harm of depleted uranium is best left to the Serbs.
Commenting on the Pentagon’s announcement that they will send depleted uranium grenades to Ukraine, Zakharova emphasized that the harmful effects of depleted uranium, including its impact on human health in the form of radioactive dust and its effect on soil pollution, are very apparent and have been documented multiple times.
According to her, several cases of oncological diseases have been recorded in areas where depleted uranium ammunition was used, with the best example being the NATO aggression against the former Yugoslavia.
“Soldiers of NATO, primarily the Italian army, unconsciously experienced the consequences. Out of 7,500 exposed to toxic substances and radiation, 372 people died, mostly from oncological diseases: kidney disorders, lung cancer, bone cancer, esophageal cancer, skin cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and leukemia,” Zakharova specified.
Zakharova noted that according to data from the Ministry of Health of Serbia, regions exposed to NATO bombings and strikes have seen a significant increase in cases of tumors, male infertility, autoimmune diseases, pregnancy-related complications, and psychological disorders in children, as reported by “Russia Today.”
The Pentagon previously announced that the Biden administration had approved the shipment of controversial depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine as part of a new $175 million military aid package.