Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin claims Moscow could use weapons with depleted uranium

Russian president Vladimir Putin said that if necessary Russia would use weapons with depleted uranium in response to reports that the United States would supply such weapons to Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Tuesday that the US was set to approve depleted uranium tank rounds for Kyiv. Depleted uranium is a dense by-product left over when uranium is enriched for use in nuclear reactors or nuclear weapons. The rounds retain some radioactive properties, but cannot generate a nuclear reaction as a nuclear weapon would. In March 2023, the UK said it would supply armour piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to Ukraine to help destroy Russian tanks. Putin falsely claimed that these weapons had a “nuclear component.” Meanwhile, Russia launched a “massive” attack overnight on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing at least ten people and wounding 28 others. “As of 1300 (1000 GMT) 10 people have been killed,” city mayor Oleksandr Vilkul said in a Telegram post, adding that another person was under the rubble and a further 28 were injured. Read More Russia losing 900 soldiers a day during counteroffensive, Ukrainian officials claim Putin mixes threats of new offensive in Ukraine with offers of peace talks UN nuclear chief says large Ukraine atomic power plant held by Russia faces 'dangerous situation'