West bringing world to a 'nuclear Armageddon': Antonov

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Russian Ambassador in Washington Anatoly Antonov warned that the US-led West has irrevocably crossed a perilous line that leads to a nuclear Armageddon by a decision made to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition.

"It seems that the enlightened West, led by Washington, has irrevocably decided to bring humanity to a dangerous line, beyond which nuclear Armageddon looms more and more clearly," Antonov said as cited by the Russian diplomatic mission in the United States.

In response to the UK's plan to deliver depleted uranium shells to Ukraine, the United States tried to cover up for the UK supplying depleted uranium shells to Ukraine by claiming that their use is commonplace.

"This kind of ammunition is fairly commonplace, been in use for decades," US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said Wednesday.

On this issue, Antonov added, "It is really difficult to comment on this kind of nonsense. US officials have hit a new low with their irresponsible statements. There is an endless flow of deadly weapons streaming to Ukraine by which civilians, residential areas, schools, hospitals, kindergartens are being destroyed. But even this is not enough for Western villains. Now, apparently, they want to supply depleted uranium shells to the Kiev Nazis!"

He further cautioned that using this kind of ammunition radioactive dust is extremely toxic and cannot be decontaminated.

"The Americans are well aware of this, because they have already used these weapons in  Iraq and Yugoslavia, the victims suffered from deadly ailments, and their children were born with congenital defects," Antonov stressed.

Back in January, the United States refused to disclose whether Washington would give Ukraine depleted uranium anti-tank munition in light of the ongoing war in the country, The Intercept reported, citing the transcript of a press briefing.

The West is supplying depleted uranium shells despite there being mountains of evidence showing that the weapon causes cancer and birth defects.

Read next: Tragic birth defects in Iraq caused by US radiation pollution: Expert

According to The Intercept, an unnamed reporter asked on January 25 unnamed "senior administration officials" at a background briefing whether the Bradley Fighting Vehicles Washington sent to Ukraine in the form of aid would be armed with the 25 mm armor-piercing depleted uranium rounds they are renowned for being able to fire.

Depleted uranium is a common byproduct of manufacturing nuclear fuel and weaponry, making it able to penetrate through the thick layers of a tank's armor and ignite everyone inside of it, though the radioactivity and toxicity of these rounds are believed to have caused birth defects, cancer, and other diseases, most notably in Iraq during the US war on the country. 

The US heavily used depleted uranium rounds in Iraq during the Gulf War, firing nearly a million rounds, and the subsequent years saw a spike in birth defects and cancers in the country.

Despite the cons of using depleted uranium, the West is unable to curb Ukraine from using it if it falls into its hands, as they are believed to be able to help Kiev against Russia's tanks.

Nuclear apocalypse looming closer

The deliveries of foreign weapons to Ukraine bring the possibility of a nuclear apocalypse closer to the world, said Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev during an interview.

"Every day of deliveries of foreign weapons to Ukraine ultimately brings this very nuclear apocalypse closer," Medvedev said.

Read next: Pentagon: Russia made no decisions to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Furthermore, the top Russian official said the threat of a nuclear conflict in the world has not passed, it has increased.

"Now seriously. Has the threat of a nuclear conflict passed? No, it has not passed, it has increased," he explained.

Read more: Putin: Risk of nuclear warfare on the rise