MOSCOW, June 30 (RIA Novosti) – Russia is calling for an investigation into the alleged use of chemical weapons against independence forces in Ukraine’s east, Russia’s UN envoy Vitaly Churkin announced Monday.
“This is horrible. This case must be investigated,” Churkin told RIA Novosti.
One of the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic told RIA Novosti earlier in the day that people showing symptoms of chlorine poisoning had been admitted to local hospitals following an attack carried out by Ukrainian special forces on Slaviansk suburbs.
On Sunday, independence forces accused the Ukrainian army of using unidentified chemical weapons in the village of Semenivka, near Slaviansk. Two independence supporters in critical condition have been hospitalized.
Fierce battles between independence supporters and pro-Kiev forces continued in Slaviansk throughout the weekend despite the recent extension of the temporary ceasefire in the east.
The initial deadline was to expire late Friday, but President Petro Poroshenko made a decision to give independence forces in the country’s east additional 72 hours to lay down their weapons.
