Russian general accuses Ukraine of using chemical weapons- Analysis

The Russian Lieutenant General, Igor Kirillov, has claimed that the Ukrainian military has used chemical agents to poison food on 17 occasions, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people. Kirillov, who heads the Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Russian Armed Forces, made these allegations during a speech at the 3rd Congress of Young Scientists. However, Kirillov did not specify which country the alleged chemical compounds were exclusively made in.

The general’s speech came a day after Russia presented evidence to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to support their claims of Ukrainian poisoning. Kirill Lysogorsky, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, told the OPCW that Russia has “irrefutable evidence” of the US and its allies supplying Ukraine with toxic chemicals.

Kirillov also mentioned the presence of US-conducted biological research in Ukraine, stating that Russian forces discovered strains of bacteria and viruses from American collections at certain research facilities. He also expressed concerns about the possibility of the Ukrainian military resorting to biological weapons, asserting that they might shift their tactics to non-standard forms of warfare.

In a previous briefing, Kirillov revealed that there were 46 US-funded biological research laboratories in Ukraine before the conflict began. While Russia claims to have exposed and shut down these activities, Kirillov suggests that some of the research has been relocated to Africa.

The US and Ukraine have insisted that the biological research was legitimate and intended for peaceful purposes, promoting biorisk management and weapons elimination in the region.

Analysis: The article is sourced from RT, a Russian state-funded news outlet. As a result, its credibility and potential bias should be considered. RT is known for promoting narratives that align with the Russian government’s agenda, making it important to critically evaluate the information presented.

The article lacks important details, such as specific examples or evidence to support the claim that the Ukrainian military has used chemical agents to poison food. The absence of specific information, combined with the lack of clarity regarding the exclusively manufactured chemical compounds, weakens the overall credibility of the claims.

The article also presents claims made by Russian officials without including any counterarguments or perspectives from Ukraine or other independent sources. This one-sided presentation of information contributes to the potential bias and lack of reliability in the article.

There is also a lack of context provided regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The political landscape and ongoing tensions between the two countries may impact the willingness of the public to accept or question the information presented. The prevalence of fake news and disinformation, combined with the polarized political climate, can further influence the public’s perception and interpretation of the article’s claims.

Overall, the article’s reliability is questionable due to the lack of evidence, the potential bias of the source, and the absence of counterarguments or independent perspectives. The information presented may contribute to misinformation or a skewed understanding of the topic, particularly for readers who rely solely on this source for their news. It is crucial to critically evaluate the article and seek additional sources to obtain a more nuanced understanding of the situation.

Source: RT news: Ukraine has used chemical weapons – Russian general