The USA has not confirmed the use of chemical weapons in Mariupol yet. They have warned the Ukrainians earlier that russia can use chemical agents in this south-eastern Ukrainian city, - CNN cites the Spokesperson of U.S. Department of State Ned Price.
“Before today we received reliable information that russians were probably preparing to use agents, chemical agents, potentially tear gas, mixed with other agents, as part of a plan to weaken defence capability of the military and the civilians left in Mariupol”,- Said Price.
“We shared this information with our Ukrainian partners. We will talk to them directly and will try to establish, what exactly happened. As soon as we are sure, we will report what it is or could have been”, - said Ned Price.
Britain is also verifying the information about the use of chemical weapons in Mariupol by russians. Lizz Truss, Foreign Secretary of Great Britain wrote on her Twitter.
“Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details. Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account”, - wrote Lizz Truss.
Yesterday evening Azov battalion, which is defending Mariupol together with the naval infantry, reported that around 21.30 russian occupiers used unknown poisonous agent against the Ukrainian military and the civilians in Mariupol.
Earlier Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova reported that russian propaganda shared a statement from one of the leaders of so called “People’s militia of DPR” Eduard Basurin, that attacking undeground fortifications of “Azovstal” in Mariupol is meaningless. So it is advisable to close all exits and use chemical weapons.