Disinfo: Radiation from depleted Uranium ammo in Ukraine approaches Europe

Summary

The destruction of depleted uranium munitions supplied by the West to Ukraine has resulted in the formation of a radioactive cloud. It has already made its way to Europe. An increase in radioactivity has already been recorded in Poland.

Disproof

Pro-Kremlin narrative claiming that weapons delivered to Ukraine for the defence of its territory will turn into a disaster for Western populations due to radiation issues.

Great Britain delivered to Ukraine depleted uranium shells and even though Russia has and uses similar ammunition, it was described in Russian outlets as a crime against humanity, or a genocide.

On the night of May 12-13, a warehouse in Khmelnitsky, western Ukraine, was bombed by a Russian drone. According to satellite data from the Planet tool, a storage warehouse for old Soviet munitions was hit. However, it is impossible to confirm that the weapons destroyed contained depleted uranium. The GeoConfirmed account believes, for example, that it is impossible to assess what exploded.

Polish and Ukrainian sensors did note an increase in radioactivity of Bismuth-214 on their territories. However, it is not proof that a cloud of depleted uranium has moved towards Poland, on the opposite it seems to be a natural phenomenon. Firstly, because uranium is not associated with bismuth-214. Secondly because rain which has been observed in the region and it naturally raises such measures on detectors by such amplitudes. Independent nuclear monitoring specialists in France and Ukraine consider no evidence of a radioactive cloud linked to a warehouse explosion has been observed so far.

Read the full debunk on TF1 (in French).

Read also related stories: The West wants to turn Ukraine into a radioactive graveyard, London wants to scorch the earth with uranium shells in Ukraine, Use of depleted uranium shells is a crime against humanity, the French government systematically lied to the population.

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sputnikglobe.com (Archived)
fr.sputniknews.africa (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 330
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 23/05/2023
  • Article language(s) French
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: UK, US, Ukraine, Russia, Poland
  • Keywords: Nikolay Patrushev, Radiation, Chernobyl, Invasion of Ukraine, War in Ukraine, West, Ukraine
*
This disinformation claim was broadcast on the date mentioned above. Due to the EU decisions  to temporarily restrict the spread and dissemination of RT, Sputnik and other instruments used to manipulate information and promote disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine inside the EU, access to the link may not work inside the EU.
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May 22, 2023
Disproof

The article promotes a pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about alleged genocide committed by Ukraine, aiming to justify the full-scale Russian invasion of and war crimes in Ukraine.

The idea that Ukraine is committing genocide against its own population is promoted by Vladimir Putin in his speeches. The idea is nevertheless baseless. Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, or race.

Disinfo: Europe is using Ukrainians as cannon fodder

If Europe says that it will support Ukraine for as long as is needed, and that it thinks that this counteroffensive will succeed, there are two options: either Europe is fooling Zelenskyy and all the Ukrainians, or they fool themselves and their taxpayers, who see how the investments in weapons and munitions and their fiscal sacrifices are turning into smoke and junk.

Ukrainians might think that they are being used as cannon fodder.

May 22, 2023
Disproof

This claim is false. The European and other Western countries have already agreed to supply advanced fighter aircrafts to Ukraine. The day this disinformation story appeared there were already reports on the debate about providing US-made F-16 fighters to Ukraine for its self-defence against Russia’s invasion, with countries like UK or The Netherlands strongly in favour of it. Less than 48 hours later, the US announced a plan to allow the export of F-16 planes to Ukraine by third countries, as well as to train Ukrainian pilots. Earlier, other countries such as Slovakia and Poland had already committed to send Mig-29 fighters to Ukraine.

By portraying support for Ukraine as a useless waste of taxpayers’ money and Europe as a treacherous and self-interested entity, the ultimate goal of this disinformation story is to erode popular support for the aid sent to Ukraine for its self-defence against Russia’s aggression.

Disinfo: Zelenskyy aims to continue the war to avoid elections in Ukraine

Zelenskyy has closed the door to any dialogue because he already has his ‘peace’. During his European tour, he asked for more weapons and more support, especially fighter aircrafts, but he got nothing of the latter. He already has the solution [...]: to continue the war and martial law so there won't be elections in the autumn and he can't be replaced.

May 22, 2023
Disproof

This is a mix of several recurring disinformation narratives, aiming to undermine both the leadership of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and international aid for Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.

This disinformation story disingenuously ignores the fact that the current state of war and destruction caused by the Russian invasion doesn’t allow the organisation of elections in Ukraine. By baselessly claiming that president Zelenskyy wants to extend the war so he can’t be expelled from power, this disinformation narrative aims to portray him as an autocratic leader, part of a recurring and wider effort to discredit him.