ISTANBUL

Russia on Thursday called on the UN to condemn the UK’s plan to provide Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition.

“One gets the impression that the UN Secretariat is ready in advance to ‘turn a blind eye’ to any actions of the ‘collective West’ in support of the Kyiv regime, despite the fact that they can have serious consequences, including from the point of view of radiological danger,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

The statement claimed that such ammunition was used by the US in Yugoslavia and Iraq and that their use can later provoke the development of serious pathologies, including cancer.

Zakharova also said that the European Parliament has repeatedly adopted resolutions imposing an immediate moratorium on the further use of weapons with depleted uranium ammunition, but that the “collective West” is trying not to raise this topic anymore.

“We have become accustomed to the duplicitous and deceitful position of the Western bloc states, but are extremely disappointed that representatives of the UN Secretariat also hush up the obvious negative consequences of the use of depleted uranium munitions,” Zakharova said, adding that the UK must be held accountable for its “reckless actions.”

The UK announced in late March that it will supply Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition, a decision which was met with fierce criticism from Russia.

Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general, expressed concerns over the UK’s decision, saying: "You have seen the concerns we've expressed over the years about any use of depleted uranium given the consequences of such usage. And those would apply to anyone who provides such armament."

The UK has defended sending depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine, saying it is a “standard component,” and accused Moscow of "deliberately trying to disinform."