The Biden administration will for the first time send controversial armor-piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to Ukraine, according to a document seen by Reuters and separately confirmed by two U.S. officials.
"The rounds, which could help destroy Russian tanks, are part of a new military aid package for Ukraine set to be unveiled in the next week. The munitions can be fired from U.S. Abrams tanks that, according to a person familiar with the matter, are expected be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks," the report said.
The coming aid package will be worth between $240mn and $375mn depending on what is included.
The value and contents of the package were still being finalised, the officials said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US used depleted big amount of uranium munitions during the 1990 and 2003 Gulf Wars and during NATO bombings of the former Yugoslavia in 1999.
In March, it was reported that the Ukrainian Defence Forces would receive special tank shells containing depleted uranium for Challenger 2 tanks from the UK. In April, the UK had sent thousands of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including armor-piercing depleted uranium shells.