russian missiles armed with depleted uranium warheads

05/21/2026

Russian missiles armed with depleted uranium warheads were discovered after an attack on Ukraine’s Chernihiv Oblast last month, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said on May 20.

Elevated levels of radiation were detected from an unexploded R-60 air-to-air missile, which was equipped on a modified Geran-2 drone. A gamma radiation level of 12 micro-Sieverts per hour was recorded, which significantly exceeds the natural radiation background and poses a threat to human health.

The SBU further warned Ukrainian citizens to be extremely cautious if they come across debris from drones, missiles, or other munitions, given the toxicity and radioactivity of depleted uranium.

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