Russia Says British Empire Will Not Get Away with Foisting Its Crimes on Kiev Regime

April 26, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)—U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told the House of Commons on April 18 that the U.K. has sent thousands of rounds of depleted uranium tank ammunition to Ukraine, but bears no responsibility for the clean-up after they’re used. “There is no obligation on the U.K. to help clear up depleted uranium rounds fired from Challenger 2 tanks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Heappey said in response to questions from Scottish MP Kenny McCaskill. “However, we remain committed to helping Ukraine emerge from this war secure, prosperous and free and we are supporting a range of activities to meet Ukraine’s immediate needs, restore essential infrastructure and services, and lay the groundwork for its longer-term recovery and post-war reconstruction.”

The Russian Embassy in London warned that the U.K. will not be able to evade its responsibility for the consequences of the use of depleted uranium ammunition that it provides to Ukraine, in a statement posted to the embassy website: Heappey “cynically stated that London is not monitoring the deployment of these weapons—the responsibility for this allegedly borne by the armed forces of Ukraine—and has no obligation to eliminate the consequences of their use following the end of the conflict,” the embassy statement said. “All this while discussions are ongoing at the IAEA on the issue of accountability to the Agency by countries that are participating in the supply of such source fissile materials....

“Shockingly, against this background, the U.K. Defense Ministry does not seem to realize the extent of hypocrisy of their clerical assurances that London intends to ‘lay the groundwork’ for a successful post-conflict reconstruction of Ukraine.

“We call on the British authorities not to indulge in illusory hopes that they will be able to get off scot-free by making the armed forces of Ukraine accountable for the toxic ammunition now at their disposal. London will not succeed in shifting blame to its Kiev clients for their crimes.”