Fears Russia is planning a false flag chemical weapons attack in Ukraine that it will blame on the West as Kremlin accuses US of plotting a ‘provocation’
- Allegations came from chief of Putin’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Forces
- Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov claimed former US ambassador to Moscow had warned at a conference that Russia intended to use chemical weapons
Fears are rising that Russia is planning a false flag incident involving chemical weapons in Ukraine.
The Russian state media went into overdrive this morning, claiming the US and its allies are plotting a chemical strike.
The allegations came from Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, the chief of Vladimir Putin‘s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Forces.
Yet the frenzy has the hallmarks of a Russian operation to blame the West for its own attack.
Moscow has repeatedly used such tactics in the war in Ukraine, while Kyiv has accused Russia of ‘yet another provocation’ and a ‘likely false flag’ by Putin’s forces.
Kirillov claimed that former US ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan had warned at a conference that Russia intended to use chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine.
The allegations came from Lieutenant-General Igor Kirillov, the chief of Vladimir Putin’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence Forces (pictured)
Pictured: Damaged building in Kharkiv
A slide shown at the briefing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov. The headline reads: ‘Examples of provocative actions of the US’. From left to right: 2003 an excuse to invade Iraq, 2017 an excuse for missile strikes against Syria, 2018 an excuse to destroy scientific facilities
‘We regard this information as the intention of the US itself and its accomplices to conduct a provocation in Ukraine using toxic chemicals,’ said Kirillov.
He alleged chemicals were delivered by train to Kramatorsk, accompanied by ‘foreign citizens’.
They were allegedly placed at the Kramatorsk Metallurgical Plant.
Kramatorsk is in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Some 16 sealed boxes were unloaded including some marked BZ, a prohibited substance under chemical weapons treaties which causes acute psychosis, loss of orientation, hallucinations and memory disorders.
He alleged the US had repeatedly over many years made ‘fake’ allegations of chemical attacks as provocations.
Kirillov claimed that former US ambassador to Moscow John Sullivan (pictured) had warned at a conference that Russia intended to use chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine
A slide shown at the briefing of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov. The headline reads: ‘Delivery of toxic chemicals to Kramatorsk’
Kirillov (pictured) alleged chemicals were delivered by train to Kramatorsk, accompanied by ‘foreign citizens’. They were allegedly placed at the Kramatorsk Metallurgical Plant
‘The cargo was placed on American-made armoured vehicles, which moved as part of the column to the line of contact,’ alleged the Russian general.
Means of protection from chemical attacks were also delivered, he claimed.
‘The facts of the simultaneous supply of toxic chemicals and means of protection against them indicate an attempt to carry out large-scale provocations using the psychotropic chemical warfare agent BZ during the conflict,’ said Kirillov.
But he provided no proof for such claims.
‘Washington expects the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict to make it difficult for the international community to launch an effective investigation, as a result of which the real organisers and perpetrators could escape responsibility, while the blame would be shifted on Russia,’ alleged Kirillov.
He said the Russian forces in Ukraine ‘have the equipment and technology to identify the possible use of toxic substances and deal with this situation’.
