Russia-Ukraine war moves into nuclear phase

MOSCOW, Russia – The threat that the war between Russia and Ukraine is turning into a nuclear flashpoint is quickly becoming a reality.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has threatened to use depleted uranium, which causes birth defects, miscarriages, and cancer from radiation, in addition to fatalities.

Earlier reports indicated that the U.S. was equipping the Ukrainian army with military weapons containing depleted uranium for its main battle tanks.

Ukrainian forces recently launched a major counteroffensive against Russian troops along a broad front in the east and south of the country.

The offensive is seen as a decisive operation to decide the future of the region.

In February, a senior British defense official had also announced plans to supply military weapons with depleted uranium to Ukraine.

Russia has warned that it would consider the use of such weapons an act of nuclear war.

Putin said Tuesday that his country also has many such weapons and reserves the right to use them if Ukraine is supplied with such munitions.