Armed Conflict — 2026-07-24

Ukraine Security Service Finds Uranium in Russian Geran-2 Drone Warheads With Radiation Up to 80 Times Background Levels

BLUFSix confirmed depleted-uranium warhead recoveries across three months make it very likely SSU will document additional cases beyond Chernihiv over the coming weeks, establishing a persistent radiological contamination threat along drone strike corridors.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) reported that counterintelligence investigators identified six new instances of Russia's use of depleted-uranium components in Geran-2 attack drones that struck Chernihiv region between April and June 12. The warheads were adapted R-60/R-60M air-to-air missiles mounted on the drones, including wreckage recovered near the village of Kamka from an April 7 strike 1. Radiological survey teams from the SSU and State Emergency Service measured gamma radiation of 8.3 to 24 μSv/h on individual fragments, exceeding the 0.3 μSv/h sanitary norm by up to 80 times, and laboratory analysis confirmed the warheads contained Uranium-235 and Uranium-238 23. The SSU secured the recovered warhead material and transported it to a radioactive waste storage facility, and has opened a war-crimes investigation under Article 438 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, supervised by the Chernihiv Regional Prosecutor's Office 12.

Analysis
The classification confirms Russia is fielding an air-denial munition class rather than an isolated incident, forcing Ukrainian air defense and intercept crews operating near Chernihiv to treat downed Geran-2 wreckage as a radiological hazard, not just an explosive one. It is very likely SSU documents additional depleted-uranium warheads in Geran-2 strikes elsewhere in Ukraine over the coming weeks, given the pattern spans six separate incidents across three months in one region alone. Moderate confidence reflects that the assessment rests on a single investigating body's forensic and laboratory findings without independent radiological verification.
4 sources
  1. SSU detects elevated radiation levels on wreckage of russian strike drone used to attack Chernihiv region in April 2026 - SSU (Security Service of Ukraine)
  2. SBU uncovers 6 more instances of Russia using depleted uranium munitions in Chernihiv region - Interfax-Ukraine
  3. SBU uncovered new instances of Russia using depleted uranium munitions - radiation levels exceeded by 80 times - UNN
  4. Russo-Ukrainian war, day 1611: Ukraine finds uranium in Russian drones striking Chernihiv Oblast - Euromaidan Press

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