Moscow accuses US of preparing a 'toxic chemicals' provocation in Ukraine

Russia said it 'will identify and punish the true culprits'

US President Joe Biden (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Credit: AFP File Photos

The United States is planning a provocation in Ukraine using toxic chemicals, the Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday.

The ministry cited former US ambassador to Russia John Sullivan as saying that "Russian troops plan to use chemical weapons in the special military operation area."

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"We regard this information as the intention of the United States and their accomplices to carry out a provocation in Ukraine using toxic chemicals," Igor Kirillov, chief of the radiation, chemical and biological defence troops of Russia's armed forces said during a briefing.

He said that Russia "will identify and punish the true culprits."