Ukraine, the US and the UK investigate the use of chemical weapons in Mariupol

the ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyhas warned of the possible use of chemical weapons in Mariupol by the Russian Army, an issue that has already been discussed with world leaders and that would mean that it is “necessary react to Russian aggression a lot stronger and faster“. The same day, the Azov battalion – Ukrainian neo-Nazi paramilitary group – accused Moscow troops of using a chemical substance in the besieged town.

Specifically, the founder of the Azov battalion, Andrey Biletskyhas maintained this morning in a Telegram message that the Russian army has used a chemical weapon in Mariupol. Thus, it has denounced that Russia has used a poisonous substance of unknown origin that was dropped from the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle, drone) on the Azovstal plant in Mariúpol and three people were injured. So far, this extreme not confirmed and the Ukrainian Defense and intelligence services of the United States and the United Kingdom are trying to verify information.

Volodymyr Zelensky has highlighted in his daily speech that a Russian spokesman stated that they could use chemical weapons against Mariupol. Faced with this situation, Zelensky recalled that “the use of chemical weapons by the Russian Army has already been discussed with the world leaders“. According to the Ukrainian leader “it is time to approve a package of sanctions in such a way that not even a word about massive destruction weapons no longer heard from the Russian side”. “A oil embargo against Russia is mandatory,” he maintained.

In addition to the Azov battalion’s accusations, the Municipality of Mariupol he has also denounced the use of chemical weapons in the city by Russia.

In this regard, the Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Maliarhas ensured that they are checking unverified information of the possible use of chemical weapons by Russia in Mariupol. “There is a theory that it could be phosphorous ammunition. The official information will come later,” Malyar pointed out.

After these accusations, United States and United Kingdom is it so doing research whether Moscow has used chemical weapons in Mariupol. Specifically, the British Foreign Minister, Liz Truss, has reported that they are working “urgently” to verify the details. “Any use of such weapons would be a callous climbing in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime accountable,” he said.

For his part, the British Minister for the Armed Forces, james heappeyhas warned that “all the options is it so on the table“if the use of chemical weapons were confirmed, something that British intelligence has not yet been able to verify. “There are some things that are beyond the limits. The use of chemical weapons will have an answer and all options are on the table for what that answer might be,” Heappey told Sky News.

Along the same lines, the Department of Defense of USA has indicated that the Pentagon is closely monitoring reports of the use of chemical weapons in Mariupol. “At this time we cannot confirm it and we will closely monitor the situation,” said the spokesman for the US Department of Defense, John Kirby, while expressing that, if confirmed, it would be something “deeply troubling“.

These reports “would reflect the concerns we’ve had about Russia’s potential use of a variety of protest control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents.

For its part, from the Russian partthe Ministry of Defense still has not spoken regarding these accusations. However, the pro-Russian separatist forces from Donetsk -in the Donbas region- have denied the use of chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Edward Basurina separatist commander of Donetsk, has assured the Interfax agency that they have not used this type of substance in their attempts to gain total control of the fenced city, located in the Ukrainian southeast. “The forces of the Donetsk People’s Republic did not use no chemical weapon in Mariupol,” he maintained.