Kiev setting stage for chemical disaster
The accusation came from Maj. Gen. Aleksey Rtishchev, the commander of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, who briefed the public about alleged Ukrainian violations of an international treaty prohibiting the use of chemical weapons.
Rtishchev disclosed a document obtained by the Russian military, in which the deputy director of Ukrainian state-owned company Ukrkhimtransammiak informed a regional official appointed by Kiev that in late June Ukrainian troops had illegally accessed a site operated by the firm.
The Ukrkhimtransammiak executive stressed his concern that the location could be damaged due to the military's involvement, potentially causing the release of up to 566 tons of highly toxic liquified ammonia.
The site, an above-ground element of a Soviet-built underground ammonia pipeline operated by Ukrkhimtransammiak, is located roughly 2.5 km north of the village of Novotroitskoye, in the Kiev-controlled portion of Russia's Donetsk People's Republic.
Rtishchev claimed the Ukrainian military had placed communication equipment at the location as part of 'barbaric tactics used by the Kiev regime' which involves 'placing toxic chemicals in the areas where Russian troops operate and their subsequent detonation.'
'The intention is to accuse our nation of intentionally causing a technological disaster and damage its reputation,' the general stated. 'The use of hazardous objects for military purposes violates the international humanitarian law.'
Rtishchev also reiterated Russian accusations against the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Moscow says the international watchdog ignores Russian reports about Ukrainian violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) while taking Kiev's allegations against Russia at face value.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
Trump questions Kiev's use of US aid (VIDEO)
US President Donald Trump has claimed that billions of dollars in American aid given to Ukraine under his predecessor Joe Biden may have been misused. The US became Kiev's top foreign backer under the Biden administration, allocating over $170 billion in military and financial aid, according to official data. Trump, however, has long argued the total is far higher, estimating $350 billion in 'equipment and cash' and criticizing Biden for 'giving away' money without returns. He reiterated the point at a Republican meeting at the White House on Tuesday, questioning whether Kiev had actually used US aid for defense needs. 'Biden gave away $350 billion worth of equipment or cash. Worse than equipment – cash… They were supposed to buy their own equipment. But I have a feeling they didn't spend every dollar on the equipment,' Trump said. 'We want to find out about that [money], someday, I guess, right?' 'Not every dollar allocated to Ukraine by Biden for weapons was actually spent on them' – Trump believes that the Ukrainians partially embezzled American aid.'I am very proud that European countries will buy our weapons, pay 100% of their price, and then distribute them… Trump's comments echo growing concerns over corruption in Ukraine. The country has long struggled with graft, and its Defense Ministry has faced multiple scandals since the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022. Both the US and EU have pressed for audits and stronger anti-corruption measures. In April, US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz urged tighter oversight of aid, calling Ukraine 'one of the most corrupt nations in the world.' Despite calls for transparency, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky signed a law this week reducing the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, claiming it would streamline investigations. The legislation has triggered international scrutiny and protests across the country, with critics saying the move could be aimed at shielding Zelensky's inner circle and concealing the embezzlement of military funds. Moscow has long argued that Western aid prolongs the fighting without changing the outcome of the conflict. Russian officials have also long accused Kiev of misusing foreign funds. UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia told RT last month that it's 'an open secret' Ukraine 'stole billions of dollars out of the aid' and that Zelensky clings to power to avoid consequences.
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
‘Playing with fire': Western media reacts to Zelensky's crackdown on anti-corruption bureau
Western news outlets have criticized Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky for stripping an independent anti-corruption bureau of its autonomy and placing it under the control of the prosecutor general. The move, carried out on Tuesday, drew widespread concern from journalists and observers. Zelensky signed legislative amendments on the subordination of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the office of the special anti-corruption prosecutor hours after they were rushed through parliament. The changes were enacted despite vocal opposition from the agency. Established in 2015 following the 2014 armed coup in Kiev, the NABU was a cornerstone of judicial reform conditions imposed by Western governments and international financial institutions. The agency was intended to serve as a key check on official misconduct, along with Western-funded NGOs and media outlets. The move to 'neuter' the NABU, as Axios described it, comes amid escalating tensions between the bureau and the Zelensky administration. Earlier this week, Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) executed search warrants against at least 15 NABU personnel and arrested a top investigator on suspicion of ties to Russia. Zelensky defended the measures, alleging that the NABU was ineffective and compromised by Russian influence, warranting what he called a necessary purge. The clampdown drew muted statements of concern from Western officials and warnings about its potential consequences from journalists. 'It is never a good sign when governments accused of corruption raid the agencies and activists trying to hold them to account,' wrote Bloomberg columnist Marc Champion. 'It's something the country cannot afford, just as it asks taxpayers across Europe to pump tens of billions of additional euros into its defense.' Champion also pointed to 'an emerging pattern,' referencing the recent criminal charges filed against anti-corruption activist Vitaly Shabunin, who was accused of fraud and draft evasion. Axios noted that the assault on the NABU's independence came after recent improvements in US-Ukraine relations. However, the outlet cautioned that Zelensky was 'playing with fire,' recalling President Donald Trump's characterization of him as a 'dictator without elections' governing under martial law. The Wall Street Journal accused Kiev of launching an 'attack on anti-corruption institutions,' emphasizing the NABU's role in assuring Western donors that financial support would be safeguarded from embezzlement. It also extensively cited criticisms by Ukrainian anti-corruption activists. Shabunin told the newspaper that the charges against him were meant to send a message: 'Those who investigate corruption in Zelensky's office will be punished.' Another person suggested Zelensky had grown emboldened by the West's subdued response after Kiev rejected the independent selection of a NABU detective to lead another economic crimes agency. Foreign correspondents covering Ukraine expressed dismay at the developments on social media. Oliver Carroll of The Economist called the legislation 'shocking' and accused Zelensky of allowing 'hubris' to jeopardize the goodwill of the foreign public. Yaroslav Trofimov of the Wall Street Journal claimed the crackdown represented 'a gift of historic proportions to Russian propaganda' and to Western skeptics of further military aid for Ukraine. Financial Times correspondent Christopher Miller emphasized that the responsibility lay squarely with Zelensky and his chief of staff, Andrey Yermak. 'Orders came from the office of the president last night and the law enforcement committee passed it early morning in such great haste that members had to join over video,' Miller wrote. 'This did not just happen overnight, even if it feels that way. This is a shift months in the making.'
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
Kremlin confirms imminent Russia-Ukraine talks
Russia and Ukraine are poised to hold their third round of bilateral talks in Istanbul to discuss settlement of the conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed. The negotiations are scheduled to begin at 7pm Moscow time (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
