Ukraine loses British tank sparking fears of depleted uranium contamination

One of 14 #tanks #britain sent to #ukraine has been destroyed in a battle with #russian forces. The smouldering wreck was filmed near Robotyne, a war-torn village in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. It’s the first time a Challenger 2 tank has ever been lost in combat since Britain began building the vehicles in the late 1980s. Ukraine believes the tanks, each worth £5m, could be of decisive advantage due to their armour-piercing rounds made from depleted uranium (DU). Rishi Sunak’s decision to supply the ammunition earlier this year caused international outcry as DU is an ultra-dense metal made from nuclear waste. Although its radioactivity is low, it can cause cancer and birth defects when exposed to humans in certain circumstances. British courts have found in favour of at least two Gulf War veterans who suffered ill health from contact with DU. Full article: