Did Russia carry out a chemical attack on Mariupol? This is what we know

What happened?

• Ukrainian Azov Battalion reported that the Russians are in the besieged coastal city Mariupol They used a poisonous substance against Ukrainian civilians and soldiers

• “Toxic substance of unknown origin”, allegedly spread by a drone, will do so Breathing problems caused

• The message was sent via Azov telegram channel Distributed, but not independently verified yet

† three persons He had trouble breathing and movement disorders

• Eduard Basurin, the military spokesman for the pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, He denies these allegations about a chemical attack. The Kremlin itself will remain silent for the time being

What is the Azov Battalion?

The Azov Regiment is a neo-Nazi militia that joined the Ukrainian National Guard in 2014. The ultra-nationalists have a strong presence in Mariupol, and are said to have caused the ethnic Russian population to flee to Russia or to the rebel republics of Donetsk and Luhansk because they no longer feel safe in the port city.

Moscow has repeatedly accused the Azov battalion of attacks on its own citizens during the war. For example, the bombing of a theater and a children’s hospital in Mariupol itself was said to have been “orchestrated” by the militias, in order to put Russia in a bad light. There is no evidence for that yet.

Is the allegation of the chemical attack being investigated?

The United Kingdom is trying to verify whether the information about the use of chemical weapons by the Russians is correct. According to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the UK is “working with partners” on the matter.

She noted that the use of chemical weapons would represent a “brutal escalation” in this conflict. We will hold Putin and his regime accountable. But so far, no independent verification has been carried out.

What does President Zelensky say?

In his daily speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian forces could use chemical weapons, but he did not say that chemical weapons had actually been used in Ukraine. However, he reiterated that his country did not have enough weapons to win the Battle of Mariupol.

From the start of the war, Ukraine feared that the Russians would use chemical weapons. Last month, the United States explicitly warned that Russia might carry such weapons.