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Ukraine Says Uranium Traces Found in Downed Russian Rocket Fragment

If confirmed, the discovery would heighten public‑health, environmental, legal/verification concerns pending independent testing to determine origin.

Overview

  • Ukrainian security service SBU reported that fragments from an R‑60 rocket mounted on a modified Geran‑2 drone showed elevated gamma readings and laboratory detection of uranium‑235 and uranium‑238.
  • The SBU said the parts came from a drone downed near the village of Kamka, with the crash occurring the night of April 7, and specialists measured about 12 microsieverts per hour at the fragments.
  • Emergency services, the army and SBU teams secured and moved the recovered material to a radioactive waste facility and the SBU opened a preliminary investigation into possible war crimes.
  • Independent international confirmation — notably from the IAEA — has not been published, and analysts say proving whether the uranium is from older Soviet components or later modification will require outside testing and clear chain‑of‑custody.
  • Experts warn that damaged uraniferous munition can produce toxic, radiological dust if burned or fragmented, posing long‑term inhalation and environmental risks and prompting public warnings and local decontamination steps.