Armored vehicles of pro-Russian troops drive on the street during the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, March 31, 2022.
Alexander Ermochenko Reuters
WASHINGTON – Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said the Pentagon was closely monitoring reports Monday night of a possible Russian chemical weapons attack on the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol.
If it is established that Russia has used chemical weapons in the strategic city, this would be a serious escalation of the conflict and would be a direct challenge to NATO’s action.
“We are aware of social media reports claiming that Russian forces have deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine,” Kirby said Monday. “At the moment we cannot confirm and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
“These reports, if true, are deeply troubling and reflect concerns we have about Russia’s potential to use various anti-riot agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine,” Kirby said.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss also said her government was working “urgently” to verify the details of the alleged attack.
The initial report was in the form of a statement in the Telegram, published by the Azov Regiment, an ultranationalist part of the Ukrainian National Guard. Azov’s statement said Russian forces had used “a poisonous substance of unknown origin.”
“Any use of such weapons would be a gross escalation in this conflict, and we will hold Putin and his regime accountable.” The coward wrote on Twitter.
U.S. officials have warned for several days that the Russian military will almost certainly continue to carry out what they call “atrocities” as it redoubles attacks in eastern Ukraine.
“Russian leaders have shown in the past … the brutality with which they conduct and pursue their operations,” Kirby told reporters earlier in the day on Monday, citing Russia’s alleged use of chemical weapons during Syria’s civil war as an example.
This is breaking news. Please check again for updates.
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