Kyiv checking unverified info that Russia used chemical weapons

KYIV • Ukraine is checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said yesterday.

"There is a theory that these could be phosphorous munitions," Ms Malyar said in televised comments, adding that "official information will come later".

Russia's Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia-backed separatist forces trying to wrest complete control of Mariupol denied using chemical weapons in comments carried by Russian news agency Interfax.

Mariupol's city council wrote on the Telegram messaging service that it was not yet possible to examine the area where the poisonous substance had allegedly been used because of enemy fire.

It said the city's civilians had minimal contact with the unspecified poison but that Ukrainian soldiers had come into closer contact with it and were being observed for possible symptoms.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Monday that Russia could use chemical weapons in the country. He did not say if they actually had been used.

Britain and the United States have said they are aware of reports that Russia may have already used chemical agents in Mariupol. Britain said it was working with partners to verify the reports.

The governor of the eastern Donetsk region, Mr Pavlo Kyrylenko, said he had seen incident reports on possible chemical weapons use in Mariupol but could not confirm them.

"We know that last night around midnight a drone dropped some so-far unknown explosive device, and the people that were in and around the Mariupol metal plant, there were three people, they began to feel unwell," he told CNN. They were taken to hospital and their lives were not in danger, he said.

Chemical weapons production, use and stockpiling are banned under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Although condemned by human rights groups, white phosphorous is not banned under the CWC.

Russia has previously accused Ukraine of preparing to use chemical weapons, without providing evidence.

Last month, the Kremlin said US talk of Russia using such weapons was a tactic to divert attention away from awkward questions for Washington.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has killed thousands and displaced millions. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" to destroy Ukraine's military capabilities and capture what it views as dangerous nationalists, but Ukraine and the West say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression.

REUTERS