Western officials have grown increasingly concerned that the Kremlin may resort to chemical warfare in order to overcome the fierce resistance faced by its troops following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to UK intelligence sources, Russian troops are struggling to achieve key military objectives, with their invasion “largely stalled on all fronts.” Putin’s claims of a chemical weapons plot come after the Russian Defense Ministry accused Kiev and Washington last week of planning to use chemical or biological weapons against their forces.
The US has categorically denied the accusation, and officials now believe it was a clumsy attempt by Moscow to justify launching a similar attack against Ukrainians.
“We do believe that we should be on the lookout for Russia possibly using chemical or biological weapons,” one journalist said.
Now, Ukrainian commanders defending Mariupol claim that their invaders could target factories with ammonia containers, resulting in “one of the world’s worst chemical disasters.”
The fear is that a shell or bomb will strike ammonia storage containers, releasing highly toxic chlorine gas.
The US has categorically denied the accusation, and officials now believe it was a clumsy attempt by Moscow to justify launching a similar attack against Ukrainians.
“We do believe that we should be on the lookout for Russia possibly using chemical or biological weapons,” one journalist said.
Now, Ukrainian commanders defending Mariupol claim that their invaders could target factories with ammonia containers, resulting in “one of the world’s worst chemical disasters.”
The fear is that a shell or bomb will strike ammonia storage containers, releasing highly toxic chlorine gas.
“The barrels are slightly twisted, but who knows if they leak or not.
“This one is definitely scuffed, and the second one is also scuffed. It is possible that they are empty. However, we were told that they hold ninety tonnes.
“There’s an iron fence around us that says ‘Danger! It says ‘Ammonia’ on it. And that’s the end of it. If a plane crashes into this building, everything will be destroyed.”
Express.co.uk contacted a security expert to confirm claims that Russia is attempting to target factories in order to stage a de facto chemical attack.
“I haven’t heard anything about this,” said Glen Grant, a defence expert at the Baltic Security Foundation. This, however, would not surprise me.
“As they lose the initial combat stage, which they have, they will resort to atrocities and national destruction more and more.”
For weeks, the port city of Mariupol has been subjected to intense Russian bombardment, resulting in the deaths of many civilians.
Rinat owns two large steel plants in the city.
