Russia claims Ukraine is preparing for chemical attack on its troops

Russia has accused Ukraine of planning combat operations using a “special chemical belt”, by detonating tanks of hydrocyanic acid and ammonia as Russian troops advance.

The Kremlin’s chief of nuclear, chemical and biological protection, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, also claimed the Russian-installed head of Luhansk had been “severely poisoned” with phenolic compounds, in what it said was one of a number of poisoning attacks on high-ranking officials.

This comes just days after Ukraine accused Russia of intensifying chemical attacks on the battlefield.

In a statement from Lt Gen Kirillov posted to the Russian ministry of defence’s (MOD) Telegram account, Russia said it had submitted its “concerns” about Ukraine using chemical weapons to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and had not had a response, four months later.

Russia has also accused the US of breaking the Chemical Weapons Convention, ratified in 1997, by allegedly supplying components for chemical weapons to Ukraine. This included a drone attack using Us-manufactured gas grenades containing tear gas, which it said were dropped on Russian troops in December.

In November, Russia lost its seat on the executive board of OPCW and was replaced by Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine. Vladimir Putin, inset, has claimed the move, has created “another international platform” that it said was “fully controlled by the USA”.

Russia said specific requests made by Ukraine to Western allies for equipment to protect individuals against chemical weapons, such as specialised gas mask sand antidotes, pointed to an expectation that chemical weapons would be used.

“According to available information, the Kiev regime, with the assistance of Western curators, is developing new tactics for conducting combat operations using a ‘special chemical belt’,” the Russian MOD said.

“It involves detonating tanks of hydro cyanic acid and ammonia as Russian troops advance. From September to October 2023, the specified chemicals were delivered to areas of Kramatorsk and Kupyansk, which are planned to be placed along motorways and at major transport interchanges.”