The detonation in Chmielnicki is simply a subject that has been circulating on social media for respective days. The recordings show a immense detonation and a cloud resembling an atomic fungus. Many netizens claim that ammunition was stored in their warehouses with impoverished uranium for Challenger 2 tanks. If that were true, it would mean a large success of the Russian air strike. In fact, however, there is no evidence of this, and information circulating on social media should be considered rumors.
No evidence
More about our evaluation system:The subject of the massive detonation in Chmielnicki, along with dramatic recordings and photos, has made a multitude of social media accounts available. Many of them claimed to have been in an attack warehouse. transferred by British tanks with impoverished uranium. Consequently, the detonation would make a radioactive cloud that would pose a threat not only to Ukraine, but besides to neighbouring countries, including Poland. The overwhelming majority of users sharing these narratives are individuals who have long been active in the duplication of information compatible with the Kremlin line.
This thesis was made available, among others. Peter Panasiuk, Balli March is Arthur Kalbarczyk. In addition to them, many social media accounts of a more or little anonymous nature have besides willingly duplicated these narratives. Twitter users (Here. is Here.) and Facebook (Here. and Here.). Along with this information, there were besides rumors about the increase of radiation in Poland, especially in Lublin. With this fake news we dealt with in 1 of our fresh Articles.
Source: twitter.comAn detonation in Chmielnicki
The attack on the town of Chmielnicki occurred in the morning of May 13, 2023. The Russians utilized air raids, most likely Shahed 136 Iranian production drones. The impact resulted in at least 2 immense explosionwhich produced a cloud hundreds of meters high, resembling an atomic fungus.
Source: twitter.comThis large detonation could only origin a large amount of explosives and flammable materials stored in 1 place. As it turns out, ammunition and fuel depots from russian times were attacked. Geolocation of this site has been confirmed by specialists from GeoConfirmed.
Source: twitter.comBased on the analysis of respective recordings from this event, the following coordinates were selected: 49°27’55.9′′N 26°52’34.1′′E. After searching Google Maps for them, it is easy to verify that there is indeed a military retention facility. This is evidenced by the earthshafts surrounding buildings that are designed to weaken the impact wave of a possible detonation and direct its strength upwards.
After a short search you can easy find information about the ammunition composition located a fewer kilometres from the town of Chmielnicki. As it turns out, already in 2011 local residents expressed their concerns about the russian ammunition there. As with 2017, erstwhile there was an detonation in the russian ammunition depot in the neighbouring Khmelnit region of the wine region. It was besides confirmed at the time that air ammunition was primarily stored there. The final confirmation of the location of the hit object is satellite photos May 15, which shows almost full demolition of the facility.
Source: twitter.comWhat was in the squad?
It seems highly improbable that the Ukrainian army would hold ammunition with impoverished uranium in warehouses whose location was publically known many years before the war. Everything indicates that were There were mainly old aerial bombs and another war materials from russian times. The vast majority of them were intended for disposal, which gradually performed since 2012. However, due to deficiency of resources, this trial failed to end before the war broke out.
However, it is not possible to clearly find what was in the composition at the time of the attack. Perhaps the current war material was stored in any magazines. However, specified information is surely not able to confirm pro-Russian social media accounts that do not supply any evidence of specified a situation. The alleged increase in radiation, which is expected to be evidence of ammunition with impoverished uranium, should be considered false. More about this aspect of the case below.
The Russians have been attacking delicate points in Ukraine for respective weeks. April 30, 2023 hit warehouses in Pavlohrad. There was solid fuel for intercontinental rockets intended for recycling. These were so not key supplies for Ukrainian war effort. Many indicate that the air strike run for old ammunition and fuel depots is primarily propaganda. Thanks to them, the Kremlowski apart influence receives spectacular visual materials to be utilized to prove the effectiveness of Russian actions in Ukraine. However, in most cases, materials of low value for the Ukrainian army are destroyed, and losses are mainly affecting the surrounding civilian population.
False
More about our evaluation system:An detonation in Chmielnicki — a fresh Chernobyl?
Many pro-Russian social media accounts effort compare The full event to the Chernobyl explosion. The alleged increase in radiation in the city is very large. Chmielnicki authorities, as well as researchers from the local university They deniedto increase radioactivity in the city and surrounding areas. No measuring instruments indicated disturbing readings.
The radioactive cloud was besides to scope Poland. An increased level of bismuth in the air was recorded in Lublin. It was left immediately. used by prokremlian social media accounts. But as we pointed out in our article, this phenomenon is completely natural and does not pose any threat to Polish residents.
Source: twitter.comTo the choir spreading panic over a radioactive threat joined (after the publication of our erstwhile text) Nikolai Patruszew, Secretary of the safety Council of the Russian Federation. Without any evidence, he claimed that a radioactive cloud was heading over Poland and Western Europe. It was to be the consequence of blowing up respective ammunition stores with impoverished uranium.
Source: twitter.comThese narratives form part of the Kremlin line, which since the announcement of the transfer of specified missiles to Ukraine presented This situation as an escalation and usage of atomic weapons against Russia. As we explained below, this is an absolute nonsense aimed only at causing panic and uncertainty among Western public opinion. And there are many indications that the Russians themselves use This kind of bullet, and the full communicative is simply a purely propaganda play.
State Atomics Agency on the same day Demented Rumors spread by Patrushev, indicating that there are no disturbing readings erstwhile it comes to radiation levels. By 21 May 2023 situation not submissive change.
Source: twitter.comAmmunition with impoverished uranium
Depleted uranium is simply a by-product of enriched uranium production. This second material is used, among others, in atomic reactors. Depleted uranium, however, is characterized by far little radioactivity than natural uranium. It is besides highly dense material with advanced hardness. These properties make it very willingly utilized for military purposes.
Anti-tank ammunition with impoverished uranium has a distinctive construction. It is simply a subcalibre rocket that consists of sabot and core. Sabot is simply a device that removes the core (penetrator) from the barrel. The sabot then separates and the core is already flying itself towards the target. The penetrator produced from depleted uranium (other materials, specified as tungsten carbide, are besides used) is oblong and very thin. During piercing, the armor undergoes the phenomenon of adiabatic shearing (self-acceleration), which importantly increases its penetration capabilities and combat effectiveness.
Radioactivity of ammunition
As already mentioned, the radioactivity of depleted uranium is comparatively low in relation to its natural form. This means that anti-tank cores do not constitute A major radiation hazard. The most dangerous is direct contact by inhalation or consumption. How read The United Nations and the global Atomic Energy Agency have no indications that the usage of depleted uranium ammunition has a crucial radiation impact on the local community and nature. It is worth noting that this material is dense metal, so as specified it has toxic properties (like many another substances utilized in the armament industry). In this case, however, the very fact of war and the usage of a large amount of toxic and hazardous substances will have a negative impact on the environment, whether or not ammunition with depleted uranium is used.
Therefore, contrary to the narratives duplicated by pro-Russian social media accounts, there is no evidence that there is an increase in radiation in Chmielnicki. Neither does that ammunition have anything to do with atomic weapons. It is no greater threat than many another conventional war materials.
Summary
Russian propaganda one more time actively tries to make panic in Poland and countries of Europe. These narratives are very much reproduced by many social media accounts. At the moment, there is no evidence that there are warehouses in Chmielnicki where ammunition was stored with impoverished uranium. There was no increase in radiation in the Ukrainian city or in Poland. Ammunition with impoverished uranium does not pose an additional large-scale radiation hazard.
Sources
The Insider: https://theins.ru/news/261716
Segodna.ua: https://ukraine.sefona.ua/amp-ukraine/Ukraine-utiliziuet-boopripasy-Chernomorskogo-flota-RF-380092.html
International Atomic Energy Agency: https://www.iaea.org/topics/spent-fuel-management/depleted-uranium
