Latest News by Industry
• The Pentagon and UK said it is working to verify details about the chemical attack
• Ukraine's military accused Russia of deploying chemical weapons on a steel facility
The Pentagon is closely following allegations of a potential Russian chemical weapons operation on the beleaguered Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to US Defense Department.
"We are aware of social media reports which claim Russian forces deployed a potential chemical munition in Mariupol, Ukraine," Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement. "We cannot confirm at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely."
"These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia's potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine," he said.
Earlier on Monday, the founder of Ukraine's Azov Regiment, said in a Telegram video that Russia deployed chemical weapons on a steel facility where Ukrainian soldiers were entrenched. Three persons were allegedly poisoned as a consequence of the alleged chemical attack, according to the unit.
UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted that the UK is urgently working to verify details about the chemical attack.
“Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account,” Truss said on Twitter.
Meanwhile, The British defense ministry said in a report that “Russian forces' prior use of phosphorous munitions in the Donetsk Oblast raises the possibility of their future employment in Mariupol as fighting for the city intensifies.”
Picture Credits: AP