MOSCOW. Aug 27 (Interfax) - The Russian side is recording the Ukrainian Armed Forces' preparations to use chemical-warfare agents in Western-supplied artillery systems, Russian Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Forces chief Igor Kirillov said.
"Intelligence information indicates that Ukrainian Armed Forces are preparing to use chemical munitions in Western-made artillery systems. Note the captured documents, which were found on abandoned Ukrainian positions - this is a manual for handling artillery munitions containing chemical agents," Kirillov told journalists on Tuesday.
Ready-to-use substances containing a mixture using thallium nitrate were found in one of the Ukrainian army's caches in August, he said.
"Thallium compounds are highly toxic agents that affect the central and peripheral nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. Numerous instances of their use for sabotage and criminal purposes are known," Kirillov said.
"Given the multiple provocations using toxic chemicals and assassination attempts on officials in the new Russian regions, we do not rule out similar incidents involving these substances," he said.