Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence: Information about use of chemical weapons in Mariupol being confirmed, it could have been phosphorus
Valentyna Romanenko – Tuesday, 12 April 2022, 10:09
Ukrainian military officials are currently confirming information regarding the use of chemical weapons by Russian occupying forces in Mariupol.
Source: Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence, on the national joint news broadcast
According to Maliar: "We are currently confirming this information, trying to understand what it was. According to preliminary information, we can say that it is possible– that it was, rather, phosphorous munition. Official information will be finalised later."
Details: Maliar stressed that the risk of Russia deploying chemical weapons remains, and is quite high.
Background: On the evening of 11 April it was reported that Russian soldiers dropped a poisonous substance of unknown origin on Mariupol. According to Andrii Biletsky, leader of the Azov regiment, the army of the Russian Federation deployed chemical weapons on the Azovstal plant, which is held by Azov fighters.
