[69130] Ukrainian Air Force refutes reports on Russian use of 'radioactive Shahed'

Clarifications surrounding reports of a "radioactive Shahed"

Following a wave of rumors on social media, the Air Force of Ukraine clarified today that there is no evidence of Russian use of a new radioactive weapon installed on "Shahed" UAVs. According to the Air Force of Ukraine and Труха⚡️Київ, the source of the measured radiation levels is components within an old Soviet R-60 air-to-air missile, which contains a depleted uranium core that is not radioactively active at a dangerous level.

Yurii Ihnat, head of the Air Force communications department, emphasized in an interview with Новини.LIVE that this is a standard alloy used in old Soviet missiles, and called on the public "not to succumb to panic." These remarks were also confirmed by Україна UA: Новини | Політика, who noted that this is not an innovative "radioactive warhead" as claimed in some publications.

On the other hand, Новини.LIVE reported that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detected gamma radiation at a crash site in the Chernihiv region at a level of 12 microsieverts per hour, a level higher than the natural background, and opened an investigation into the incident as a war crime. Security authorities emphasized that in the event of finding remnants of UAVs or missiles, citizens should avoid approaching or touching the debris, as they may contain dangerous components.