The streets of Mariupol, Ukraine, where allegations of chemical weapons use are raised▶ Click here for a larger view
When the U.S. raised allegations of the use of chemical weapons once morest Russia, Russia responded by saying it was groundless.
According to the Russian news agency Sputnik and Tas, the Russian embassy in Washington, D.C., said on a Telegram on the 13th (local time) that “State Department spokeswoman Ned Price has also emerged as a nonsense without evidence.”
“I am concerned that Russia is trying to rely on chemical weapons,” Price said at a press conference the day before. U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blincoln made a similar statement on the same day.
In response, the Russian embassy said, “This is a provocative remark,” and that “the Russian military does not and cannot have chemical weapons.” He also emphasized that all chemical weapons were scrapped in 2017.
Rather, the embassy said, “According to the information confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, radicals in Ukraine are preparing to use chemical weapons, which is creating anxiety,” the embassy said. Suspicion was raised that he did.
US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln (left)▶ Click here for a larger view
“The United States should stop disseminating false information and focus on dismantling its chemical weapons,” he said.
Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province also denied the allegations of using chemical weapons.
“DPR forces did not use chemical weapons in Mariupol,” said Eduard Vasulin, spokesman for the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) founded by pro-Russian rebels, according to Interfax news agency.
Spokesperson Basurin made remarks on the use of chemical weapons on a TV show, rapidly spreading suspicions regarding the use of chemical weapons by the Russian military and pro-Russian rebels.
According to the Associated Press, he appeared on Russian state TV on the 11th and said, “We have to block all the exits of the power plant and send in chemical units to drive out (Ukrainian side) with smoke.”
The suspicion of the use of chemical weapons by the Russian military is growing as the Azou Regiment defending the port city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine recently claimed that the Russian army used chemical weapons in the city the day before.
The Azou Regiment said through social media that an unidentified substance was dropped from the drone, and that the victims suffered breathing difficulties and mobility problems.
Meanwhile, according to Archyde.com, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hannah Malyar warned on the 13th that claims were being made that the Russian military had already used ‘white phosphorus bombs’ in Mariupol.
“The authorities have reviewed unconfirmed reports that the Russian military has already used chemical weapons in the region,” Maljar said.
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