Western officials have “serious concerns” that Russia could use chemical weapons in Ukraine, it emerged today.
Worries are mounting among allied governments after Moscow was seen “setting the scene” for such an attack.
It comes as the UK prepares to send anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, after the country accused Russia of a litany of attacks on its civilians - including targeting a children's and maternity hospital in Mariupol.
A Western official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We’re seeing some of the disinformation come out of Moscow about non-conventional weapons.
“We saw this in Syria, the Russians starting that talk when they or their proxies were about to use those weapons there.”
Asked if there are concerns the Russia will use chemical weapons, they replied: “We have good reason to be concerned about the possible use of non conventional weapons.
“Partly because we’ve seen what has happened in other theatres, for example in Syria, partly because we see a bit of setting the scene for that in the false flag claims that are coming out, and some other indications as well.
“So it’s a serious concern for us.”
Russia-backed Syria was repeatedly accused of using chemical weapons in the country's bloody war, but Russia vetoed a 2017 UN resolution that would have looked into who was responsible.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons found people were exposed to sarin gas in 2017 in the Khan Shaykhun area but did not identify who was responsible.
