Fears Putin may use chemical weapons in Ukraine as Russian invasion falters

09.03.2022 - 20:03 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Vladimir Putin may be preparing the ground for using chemical and biological warfare in Ukraine after his invasion faltered.

A western official warned it was now a serious concern that the Russian president may resort to non-conventional weapons such as chemical devices given the failures so far of his military campaign in Ukraine.

The worries are based on the fact that chemical weapons were used by the Assad regime, backed by Russia, during the Syrian civil war, some possible “false flag” operations to justify use of these devices and other factors.

A Russian government spokeswoman demanded on Wednesday that the United States explain why it was supporting what Moscow described as a military biological programme in Ukraine.

The claim was denied outright by the US but raised fears of a “false flag” operation to give the Kremlin itself cover for possibly using such weapons.

One official said: “I think we’ve got good reason to be concerned about possible use of non-conventional weapons, partly because of what we’ve seen has happened in other 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 serious concern for us.”

The claim came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of hitting a maternity hospital in Mariupol.

He said : “Direct strike of Russian troops at the maternity hospital. People, children are under the wreckage, Atrocity!

“How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror? Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity.”

UK Defence Secretary said Putin is “contained in a