WASHINGTON- The Biden administration is reportedly preparing to send depleted uranium armor-piercing munitions to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package, as revealed in a document seen by Reuters and confirmed by two U.S. officials.

These rounds, capable of countering Russian tanks, are expected to accompany the delivery of U.S. Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The aid package's total value, ranging from $240 million to $375 million, is still being determined.

This move, which follows the UK's earlier shipment of depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine, may generate controversy, similar to the previous decision to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine, despite concerns about their impact on civilians. The White House has not yet commented on the matter.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, has conducted studies in regions affected by the use of depleted uranium munitions, including former Yugoslavia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Lebanon.

These studies have indicated that the presence of depleted uranium residues in the environment does not pose a significant radiological threat to the local population.

The United States extensively employed depleted uranium munitions during the Gulf Wars in 1990 and 2003, as well as during the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia in 1999.

It's worth noting that while depleted uranium is indeed radioactive, its radiation levels are much lower than naturally occurring uranium. Nevertheless, particles of depleted uranium can persist in the environment for an extended period.

Depleted uranium, a by-product of uranium enrichment, is favored in ammunition due to its exceptional density, which enables rounds to easily penetrate armored targets and ignite upon impact, creating a hot cloud of dust and metal.

The use of depleted uranium munitions has sparked intense debate, with opponents such as the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons highlighting significant health risks associated with inhaling or ingesting depleted uranium dust, including the potential for cancer and birth defects.

Since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, security assistance for Ukraine has totaled more than $43 billion.

The funding authorization for this aid package operates through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the president to transfer articles and services from existing U.S. stocks during emergencies without requiring congressional approval. The materials will be sourced from surplus U.S. inventory.

Back in mid-June, The Wall Street Journal had reported that the U.S. was considering sending depleted uranium rounds to Ukraine. In recent weapons aid packages, Ukraine has received artillery, air defense missiles, and ground vehicles, which are crucial as Ukraine continues its counteroffensive efforts. However, the specific contents of this aid package, aside from the depleted uranium rounds, remain undisclosed.

The introduction of radioactive material like depleted uranium adds to Ukraine's already substantial post-war cleanup challenge. Many areas in the country are littered with unexploded ordnance from cluster bombs, various munitions, and hundreds of thousands of anti-personnel mines.