Ukraine's Security Service, known as the SBU, detected radiation and elements of depleted uranium in the wreckage of a Russian drone [1].
The discovery is significant because the use of radioactive materials in weaponry is prohibited under international law. If verified, the presence of such materials could elevate the incident from a standard military strike to a war crime.
The wreckage was located near the village of Kamka in the Chernihiv region [1]. According to the SBU, the device was a modified Geran-2 drone equipped with an R-60 rocket [1]. During an inspection conducted in 2024, officials identified an increased radiation background emanating from the debris [1].
Authorities have since moved the munition to a radioactive waste storage facility to ensure public safety [1]. The SBU said it is treating the incident as a war crime investigation [1].
The SBU said it did not provide a specific date for the initial discovery beyond the year 2024 [1]. The agency is currently analyzing the materials to determine the exact nature, and purpose, of the depleted uranium within the drone's structure [1].
“The SBU is investigating the incident as a war crime.”
The discovery of depleted uranium in a tactical drone suggests a potential shift in the materials used in Russian munitions or an attempt to increase the lethality and persistence of contamination at strike sites. By classifying this as a war crime investigation, Ukraine is signaling its intent to document violations of international humanitarian law for future legal proceedings.
