The Pentagon announced on Wednesday a new $175 million military assistance package for Ukraine that includes depleted uranium munitions for Abrams tanks being supplied to Kiev.
"Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine's critical security and defense needs," the Pentagon said in a press release. "The capabilities in this package, valued at up to $175 million, include..120mm depleted uranium tank ammunition for Abrams tanks."
The package also includes equipment for Ukraine's air defense systems, and additional HIMARS munitions, TOW missiles, 155mm artillery shells, and Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems.
Russian officials repeatedly warned against deliveries of such munitions to Kiev, because of risks depleted uranium might pose to civilians.
In late August, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said deliveries of depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine by Western countries lead to radiation contamination of soils in the country and make it uninhabitable.
"Due to the supply of radioactive and highly toxic British and American depleted uranium munitions, Ukraine is turning into an uninhabitable land. Radiation contamination of the soil is already happening and is being objectively recorded," Zakharova said at the time.
Ukraine launched a counteroffensive against Russian forces in early June after multiple postponements. Citing the counteroffensive's needs, Kiev pushed its Western donors to step up the military and financial aid.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian troops continue to try but are failing to advance.