DISINFO: Kyiv forces are about to launch a chemical attack against Russian soldiers
SUMMARY
Kyiv forces are about to launch a chemical attack against Russian soldiers; this is suggested by a video released by Ukrainian soldiers supplying highly toxic gas canisters to drones. The video released by Ukrainian soldiers shows their preparations to use a chemical weapon. It may be phosgene gas that is banned under the United Nations Chemical Weapons Convention.
RESPONSE
The claim that Ukraine uses chemical weapons is unfounded. Claims about nuclear or chemical weapons attacks are a staple of the pro-Kremlin disinformation apparatus. Such claims are a part of a broader pro-Kremlin information manipulation campaign supporting the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and trying to place the blame for the war’s atrocities on Ukraine, as our recent analysis explains. The claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.
There is no evidence to back the claim that Ukraine is preparing or committing a chemical provocation. Оn the contrary, many Western leaders have real concerns Russia could use chemical weapons.
Both sides use drones to drop grenades and small-scale bombs. Ukrainian munitions are not fitted with toxins or other types of chemical weapons.
Moscow has a history of falsely accusing its opponents of staging "provocations" which either never happened at all, or were subsequently carried out by themselves or their allies.
Read similar disinformation cases on the topic: US contractors help prepare chemical provocations in Ukraine; Ukraine aims to use Turkish Bayraktars for chemical attacks; Ukraine is preparing a false flag chemical attack to damage the image of Russia; Kyiv will detonate a “dirty bomb” to accuse Russia.