Such is the severity of the accusations, a war crimes investigation has now been launched into the extraordinary alleged finding against Vladimir Putin and Russia13:13, 20 May 2026Kyiv officials claim to have detected “dangerous radiation” on debris from a Russian rocket, which they say contains uranium-warhead parts.‌Ukraine state they have found elevated fragments on Vladimir Putin’s R-60 air-to-air missile, which was used in an attack on Chernihiv Oblast last month. Specialists have recorded a gamma radiation level of 12 µSv/h, which carries a terrifying health risk to humans.‌The R-60 - an infrared-homing heat-seeking missile - is designed to protect the drones from low-flying Ukrainian aircraft and interceptor helicopters. It had been attached to a modified Shahed-136. Russia's rocket was found in Kamka on April 7 and had traces of uranium-235 and uranium-238 associated with depleted uranium components, the country claims.‌So serious is the accusation that a war crimes investigation has been launched into the alleged finding. Ukraine’s SBU security service said in a statement that they detected elevated radiation levels on the debris and that action has been taken to avoid any further contact with citizens.The Security Service of Ukraine claimed: “The combat part of the Russian missile includes depleted uranium warheads identified as Uran-235 and Uran-238.‌"During a radiation survey in the immediate vicinity of the debris of the enemy drone with a missile, a gamma radiation level of 12 microsieverts per hour was recorded, which significantly exceeds the natural radiation background and threatens human health.“The SBU, together with units of the State Emergency Service and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, brought the combat part of the missile to a safe state and transported it to a storage site for radioactive waste.”‌READ MORE: Ebola outbreak began months before detection, WHO admits after Rubio criticismREAD MORE: Maldives cave divers 'sucked into cave and unable to swim out before running out of oxygen'They went on to urged people to be “especially careful in the event of the discovery of drone debris, missiles or other ammunition” because of the recent discovery. “The most dangerous are damaged or burned ammunition, as they can release radioactive material,” they added.It comes as the Russian Armed Forces have begun a three-day series of nuclear weapons drills in Belarus amid claims that Putin is planning an "invasion of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania".The exercises, which will run until Thursday, involve more than 64,000 military personnel and more than 7,800 units of equipment. The Belarusian Defence Ministry announced on Monday that it was carrying out nuclear weapons drills together with Russia "to improve the readiness of the armed forces to use modern means of destruction, including special ammunition".‌Belarusian residents have been banned from entering forests near the borders with Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine during the exercises.Putin appeared to be walking awkwardly as he arrived for his summit with Xi Jinping in Beijing today. The Russian leader's right leg seemed stiff or painful as he strode in his platform shoes onto the red carpet to meet the Chinese president. It is believed Putin used the shoes to boost his 5ft7 height alongside Xi, who is thought to be around 5ft11.The Russian leader's right leg seemed stiff or painful as he strode in his platform shoes onto the red carpet to meet the Chinese president. It is believed Putin used the shoes to boost his 5ft7 height alongside Xi, who is thought to be around 5ft11.Article continues belowUkrainian sources were quick to mock footage from the official welcome at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square. "The orc can barely walk," said one Ukrainian channel.