Australia ‘concerned’ over alleged Russian chemical weapons use in Ukraine

Sydney, Australia, Apr 12 (EFE).- Australia is extremely concerned about the alleged use of chemical weapons by Russian troops in their invasion of Ukraine, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Tuesday.

“… If (the allegations) are confirmed, that will be a further wholesale breach of international law. A further indication of President (Vladimir) Putin and Russia’s absolute violation of every single value and every single rules-based aspect of the rules-based global order, ” Payne told reporters in Sydney.

The head of Australian diplomacy also said the government would work with allies to determine the veracity of these reports, which have also caused alarm in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The day before, the founder of the “Azov” regiment, Andrei Biletsky, accused Russian troops in a Telegram message of using a chemical substance in Mariupol and injuring three people on the same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of it in his daily speech.

Australia, which supports an investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine, has sent lethal and non-lethal military material, as well as humanitarian aid to the European country, among other measures to condemn the Russian invasion.

The country has imposed sanctions against Russia, and its ally Belarus, covering some 600 individuals and entities, including Putin, among other high officials, military commanders and businessmen and imposed other commercial measures. EFE

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