'Mushroom Cloud' in Western Ukraine... Some Claim "Radioactive Leakage"

Suspected Explosion at Ammunition Depot
Some Pro-Russian Media Claim "Radioactive Contamination"
Ukrainian Side Denies as "Typical Lies"

A massive explosion occurred in a western Ukrainian city due to a Russian drone attack, sending a 'mushroom cloud' soaring into the sky. Some claimed that depleted uranium shells stored in the ammunition depot exploded, spreading radioactive contamination.

According to English-language media such as Insider and Newsweek on the 15th (local time), an ammunition depot in the western Ukrainian city of Khmelnytskyi exploded on the 13th. The cause of the explosion was a Russian military suicide drone attack, which produced two large blasts and a black mushroom cloud rising into the air.

Oleksandr Symchyshyn, mayor of Khmelnytskyi, stated via the social networking service Telegram, "Educational institutions, medical facilities, administrative buildings, industrial facilities, multi-story buildings, and private homes in the area were damaged," adding that about 30 people were injured.

However, he added, "(The injured) suffered cuts from broken glass and impact injuries from falling doors and ceilings, but there is no serious threat to life."

Explosion at an ammunition depot near a city in western Ukraine. [Image source=Telegram]

Some Russian military bloggers and pro-Russian media claimed that the explosion was caused by 'depleted uranium shells,' asserting that uranium levels in the area had risen as a result.

Previously, the British government had supplied depleted uranium shells for tanks to the Ukrainian military. Depleted uranium shells, known for their high penetration power, are known to carry a very small amount of radioactivity.

Ukrainian far-right politician and former Verkhovna Rada (parliament) member Ihor Mosiychuk also raised the possibility of radioactive contamination. On the 14th, he posted on his SNS, "There were depleted uranium shells in the Khmelnytskyi ammunition depot," and claimed, "The Zelensky government is just hoping that a Chernobyl-like incident does not occur."

A mushroom cloud rising due to the explosion. [Image source=Telegram]

However, the Ukrainian military dismissed the possibility of radioactive spread as 'Russian fake news.'

The day before, the Ukrainian military's Information Security Center stated, "After the explosion on the 13th, Russian propagandists posted about 200 messages related to radioactive leakage on Telegram, 50 of which were in Russian, but all were false," adding, "After failing in their propaganda, their claims shifted to 'the radiation levels are low now, but you will feel it in your body within a few years.' This is a typical lie."

According to the Security Center, the radioactive level contained in depleted uranium shells is minimal, emphasizing that "depleted uranium shells are neither nuclear weapons nor hazardous materials."

Ukraine's state-owned nuclear power plant operator, Ergo Atom, also dismissed the claims, stating, "There is no evidence that radiation levels have increased in the Khmelnytskyi region."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.