The Russian invasion.

Antony Blinken on a visit to Ukraine on September 7. Brendan Smialowski / AP  

The Russian invasion. The outside world's response  

US sends depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine  

The United States will send ammunition made from depleted uranium to Ukraine, several media reports. The announcement came already on Wednesday evening in connection with US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken announcing a new support package for Ukraine worth close to 175 million dollars, corresponding to almost 2 billion kroner.  

The ammunition is to be used in the American tanks Abrams. The uranium makes the ammunition so heavy that it can penetrate heavy armour. AFP describes the ammunition as controversial because the uranium in previous conflicts has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and other health effects.  

In the past, Britain has sent similar ammunition to Ukraine  

 

Stock image from 2022: Depleted uranium projectile in Utah. Staff Sgt. Nicholas Perez/AP 

The Russian invasion|The response of the outside world 

Expert: Armor Penetrating Projectiles  

The US is to send a disputed type of projectiles made from depleted uranium to Ukraine, for use in US Abrams tanks. But it is not the radioactivity that makes the ammunition type controversial but its density and weight.  

- It is so compact and receives so much energy that it just continues through the armor ring, and gets so hot that it self-ignites, says expert Edward Geist at the Rand think tank, according to CNN.  

Russia condemned the US announcement on Thursday.  

- The use of these artillery shells has resulted in a large increase in the number of cancer patients, claimed Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday, according to Reuters. 

 

Archive image. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Heiko Junge / NTB  

The Russian Invasion|The Battles  

“No signs of a deliberate Russian attack on Romania  

Romania is investigating the suspected remains of a Russian drone found on Romanian soil after this week's attacks on nearby Izmail in Ukraine. But NATO sees no signs that it would be a deliberate attack from the Russian side, says Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. 

In a speech in the EU on Thursday, however, Stoltenberg emphasized the risks that the Russian attacks entail when they take place so close to the border of a NATO country, writes Reuters. 

- It clarifies the risks of incidents and accidents, he says.  

 

Niinistö. Archive image. Henrik Montgomery/TT 

The Russian Invasion|Voices of the War

Niinistö: Escalation creates an "enormous" nuclear weapon risk  

The risk of nuclear weapon use is "enormous" if the war in Ukraine spills over into neighboring countries. Finnish President Sauli Niinistö makes that assessment in connection with a press meeting for Finnish journalists, TT and Hufvudstadsbladet report. 

- We all remember the rocket that landed in Poland, and how you woke up then. It is therefore very sensitive. Even small things can change a lot, and unfortunately for the worse, he says.  

Niinistö also expresses concern about the deteriorating security situation after the Koran burnings.  

- Whoever is soft must also be prepared to be hard, otherwise the soft will melt, he tells Hufvudstadsbladet.