UKRAINE has found “dangerous radiation” levels on debris from a Russian missile which reportedly contained uranium warhead parts.
Fragments from one of Vladimir Putin’s terrifying R-60 air-to-air rockets were found to give off terrifying levels of radiation, according to Kyiv.
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Ukraine has reportedly found nuclear traces on Russian missiles Credit: East2West
The radiation levels Credit: East2West
The missile had been surgically attached to a modified Shahed-136 loitering drone – a common Russian method.
Moscow uses these missile-drone hybrid weapons to attack Ukrainian anti-UAV planes and helicopters.
Ukraine’s SBU security service said they detected elevated radiation levels on debris from the modified drone carrying an R-60 missile.
The rocket, found in Kamka, Chernihiv, on April 7, had traces of uranium-235 and uranium-238 associated with depleted uranium components, Kyiv said.
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The missile was attached to a drone Credit: East2West
Traces of uranium were found by the weapon Credit: East2West
The SBU claimed: “The combat part of the Russian missile includes depleted uranium warheads identified as Uran-235 and Uran-238.
“During a radiation survey in the immediate vicinity of the debris of the enemy drone with a missile, a gamma radiation level of 12 microsieverts per hour was recorded, which significantly exceeds the natural radiation background and threatens human health.”
A war crimes investigation has been launched into the extraordinary alleged finding.
Kyiv added: “The SBU, together with units of the State Emergency Service and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, brought the combat part of the missile to a safe state and transported it to a storage site for radioactive waste.”
A war crimes probe has been launched into the attack by Putin Credit: Getty
A typical modified Shahed-136 drone with a piggyback R-60 air-to-air missile attached Credit: East2West
They also urged citizens to be “especially careful in the event of the discovery of drone debris, missiles or other ammunition” because of the recent discovery.
“The most dangerous are damaged or burned ammunition, as they can release radioactive material,” they said.
On Wednesday, Russia also brought its nuclear weapons units and formations “to the highest levels of combat readiness” in military drills with Iskander-M operational-tactical missiles.
It comes after flights were grounded at an airport in Vilnius, Lithuania, after a deadly drone sighting with officials imposing a “shelter in place” warning.
The Lithuanian army urged citizens to take care of their loved ones after calling in the “air danger” as a drone attempted to violate the country’s airspace.
The alert was issued after the unmanned aircraft flew close to the border in neighbouring Belarus.
Officials are yet to confirm which nation they believe was responsible for flying the aerial weapon but did say alliance fighters were scrambled amid the reported drone incursions.
A warning was also issued in the Vilnius parliament building urging lawmakers and staff to rush to the nearest shelter.
An airborne alert was also reportedly issued for residents in the Ignalina, Utena, Švenčionys, and Zarasai districts.
Lithuania has been affected by concerning aerial threats ever since the war in Ukraine started back in February 2022.
Last October, Lithuania’s capital airport was forced to shut nine times due to bizarre balloon swarms.
It comes after similar fears yesterday saw a Nato fighter jet shoot down a suspected Ukrainian drone over Estonia.
Kyiv were quick to blame Russia for forcing its drones into Estonian airspace.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said: “Russia continues to redirect Ukrainian drones into the Baltics with the use of its electronic warfare.
“We apologise to Estonia and all of our Baltic friends for such unintended incidents.”
