LONDON: Britain is attempting to confirm reports that Russia deployed chemical weapons in a strike on the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, according to the country’s top ambassador on Monday.

Western officials have previously expressed fear that if Russia’s February 24 invasion of its neighbour turns into a protracted confrontation, it may resort to more severe methods, including the use of chemical weapons.

“Reports that Russian forces may have used chemical agents in an attack on the people of Mariupol. We are working urgently with partners to verify details,” UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wrote on Twitter.

“Any use of such weapons would be a callous escalation in this conflict and we will hold Putin and his regime to account.”

Ukrainian legislator Ivanna Klympush alleged Russia had deployed a “unknown substance” in Mariupol and that people were suffering from respiratory failure. “Most likely chem. weapons!” she tweeted.

On messaging service Telegram, an adviser to the Mariupol mayor remarked that a chemical assault “is not currently confirmed”.

“We are waiting for official information from the military,” Petro Andryushchenko wrote.

Prior to this, the Ukrainian Azov battallion reported that Russian drones had dumped a “poisonous substance” on Ukrainian troops and civilians in Mariupol earlier on Monday.

Additionally, the police reported that many were suffering from respiratory failure and neurological difficulties.

It eventually emerged that three persons had “Three people have clear signs of poisoning by warfare chemicals, but without catastrophic consequences,”  battalion chief Andrei Biletsky stated in a video message on his Telegram channel. Chemical weapons had been used in a strike on the Azovstal metallurgical plant, according to him.

The accusations were unable to be verified by AFP.

Because of the siege it has been under for weeks, the Ukrainian military is warning that Mariupol may soon fall.

Washington was aware of reports of a chemical strike in the important city, but it could not authenticate them, according to US Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby on Monday night.

“These reports, if true, are deeply concerning and reflective of concerns that we have had about Russia’s potential to use a variety of riot control agents, including tear gas mixed with chemical agents, in Ukraine,” he said.

Eduard Basurin, a senior Donetsk separatist official, has said that chemical weapons could be used against the southern port.

Basurin said the besieging forces could “turn to chemical troops who will find a way to smoke the moles out of their holes,” Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted him as saying on Monday.

When it comes to its military actions in Ukraine, Russia has always denied committing any sort of war crimes.

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