As the war in Ukraine continues, European and U.S. officials have expressed concerns that Russia may resort to the use of chemical weapons. Western officials and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have warned that Putin could deploy chemical agents.
“The world must react now,” Zelenskyy said.
Officials said they are investigating an unconfirmed claim by a far-right Ukrainian regiment that a poisonous substance was dropped in the besieged city of Mariupol this week. The claim could not be confirmed by independent sources, and Ukrainian officials said it could have been phosphorus munitions, which cause horrendous burns but are not classified as chemical weapons.
The Organization for Prevention of Chemical Weapons said in a statement Tuesday that it is concerned over the “unconfirmed reports of chemical weapons” and that it is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and stands ready to assist in an investigation.
