Officials ‘seriously concerned’ that Putin could use chemical weapons

Western officials warned of their "serious concern" that Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons in Ukraine to commit further atrocities during the invasion. assessment was that an "utterly horrific" attack on the capital of Kyiv could come as Russian forces overcome the logistical issues suspected of delaying their attacks.

Thewarningscameyesterday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said children were among those under the wreckage of a "direct strike" at a maternityhospitalinthesouthern port city of Mariupol.

Foreign minister Dmytro Kulebacalledita"petrifyingwar crime", as he pleaded for allies to supply Ukraine with aircraft.

One Western official said: "I think we've got good reason to be concerned about possible use of non-conventional weapons, partly because of what we'veseenhashappenedinother theatres.

"As I've mentioned before, for example, what we've seen in Syria, partly because we've seen a bit of setting the scene for that in the false flag claims that are coming out, and other indications as well. So it's a seritheir ous concern for us."

A second official warned of more repression of the people in Russia to come as the Russian president faces an extendedcampaignthathedidnotprepare his citizens or troops for.

"This will end because of a combination of factors, one of themistheimpactofsanctions, but it's only one," they said.

"I think the state's response will not be to think about the best interests of ordinary Russians but to double down, to control information, to blame others and try to see what they can do by the partnership with Chinaandafewothercountries to offset the worst of it."