Russia attacks Ukraine using drones with radioactive substances
Photo: Russia again attacked Ukraine with drones carrying hazardous material inside (Getty Images)
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has uncovered two more cases in which Russia attacked Ukraine using drones containing hazardous material. The substance poses a direct threat to human health.
What SBU found
Counterintelligence officers and investigators from the Security Service of Ukraine have documented two new cases of Russia using munitions containing elements of depleted uranium against Ukraine.
The hazardous components were found in Geran-2 attack drones used by Russian forces in two strikes on Ukraine's Sumy region in April 2026.
The drones were equipped with R-60M air-to-air guided missiles, which Russia has been repurposing as warheads for unmanned aerial vehicles during large-scale attacks.
Hazardous components were found in Geran-2 attack drones (Photo: SBU press service)
Hazardous components were found in Geran-2 attack drones (Photo: SBU press service)
Hazardous components were found in Geran-2 attack drones (Photo: SBU press service)
Uranium found in the warheads
An investigative team and specialists from Ukraine's State Emergency Service measured gamma radiation levels of 8.3 and 10.5 microsieverts per hour (μSv/h) at the impact sites, significantly above the natural background radiation level.
A forensic examination initiated by the SBU determined that the missile warheads contained 2,810 grams of depleted uranium fragments.
The material was identified as containing:
- Uranium-234
- Uranium-235
- Uranium-238
Specialists later neutralized the hazardous components.
The SBU has opened a pretrial investigation under Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (war crimes) to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attacks.
Earlier, in April 2026, the SBU's counterintelligence service first detected elevated radiation levels on the wreckage of a Russian drone in Ukraine's Chernihiv region.
At that time, investigators recorded gamma radiation of 12 μSv/h, while the warhead of an R-60 missile was also found to contain depleted uranium, including Uranium-235 and Uranium-238.
