Russia's president has promised to "respond" to the UK's plan of sending ammunition to forces in Ukraine as they continue to defend against the year-long invasion of their territory.
Vladimir Putin responded to the news that some of the ammunition being sent to Ukraine includes armour-piercing rounds that contain depleted uranium. The Mirror reports that he has ambiguously warned of a Russian 'response' if any weapons containing nuclear components are supplied to Kyiv.
Speaking after a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jingping, Mr Putin – subject to an international arrest warrant – said: "The United Kingdom...announced not only the supply of tanks to Ukraine, but also shells with depleted uranium. If this happens, Russia will be forced to respond accordingly, given that the West collectively is already beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component."
Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu has also issued a sinister warning, claiming that there were "fewer and fewer" steps to a nuclear stand-off with the nations supporting Ukraine. Echoing Mr Putin's words, he said the world was "steps" away from nuclear devastation.
He said: "Another step has been taken, and there are fewer and fewer left. Naturally, Russia has something to answer this with."
Depleted uranium is used in armour-piercing rounds because it can penetrate tanks and other forms of armoured protection. However, there are concerns over its use as residue from the shells can present a health risk when the rounds are fired.
Putin's comment referred to remarks made on Monday by UK junior defence minister and former Scottish Tories leader Baroness Goldie, who said: "Alongside our granting of a squadron of Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, we will be providing ammunition, including armour-piercing rounds which contain depleted uranium. Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armoured vehicles."
A weapons expert says that while they contain radioactive material, depleted uranium rounds are useless as a means of creating nuclear weapons. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, former commander of Britain's Royal Tank Regiment, told the Associated Press that was it was "reckless" of Putin to accuse Britain of sending nuclear weapons to Ukraine.
He added: "Putin insinuating that they are some sort of nuclear weapon is bonkers. Depleted uranium is completely inert. There is no way that you could create a nuclear reaction or a nuclear explosion with depleted uranium."
Two of Putin's war chiefs are locked in a civil war as the Russian premier seeks military support from China. The Chinese government has offered to foster a peace proposal for Ukraine that has been roundly rejected by Western leaders.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of controversial private military contractor (PMC) Wagner, blunty warned Mr Shoigu that he will lose military gains in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut if he fails to provide Russian forces with more support. Mr Shoigu's previous response to outbursts from the PMC head was to cut his phone lines to Russian military high command.
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