Ukraine-Russia war latest: US accuses Putin of using chemical weapons as missile causes large fire in Odesa
LIVE – Updated at 09:40
The United States accused Russia of violating the global ban on chemical weapons by deploying the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops.
Chloropicrin causes severe irritation to the eyes, skin and lungs, and was used in large quantities during World War I, according to the US’s National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.
In a statement on Wednesday, the State Department said: “The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident and is probably driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield.”
It comes as a Russian ballistic missile struck a postal depot in the Ukrainian port of Odesa late on Wednesday, injuring 14 people and triggering a large fire, regional governor Oleh Kiper said.
It was the third missile attack on the city in as many days.
Pictures and a video posted online showed flames and billowing clouds of smoke engulfing buildings and firefighters training their hoses on areas still ablaze. Most of the loading area appeared to have been reduced to a shell.
Key Points
- US accuses Russia of using chemical weapons against Ukrainan troops
- Russian ballistic missile strike hits Odesa
- US hits China with sweeping sanctions over support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
Switzerland says Russia not invited ‘at this stage’ to Ukraine peace talks
09:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The Swiss government said on Thursday that Russia has not been invited “at this stage” to talks to be held in Switzerland in mid-June aimed at helping bring about peace in the conflict between Moscow and Ukraine.
“Switzerland is convinced that Russia must be involved in this process,” the Swiss government said in a statement. “A peace process without Russia is not possible.”
Brittney Griner says she thought about killing herself during first few weeks in Russian jail
09:13 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
WNBA star Brittney Griner said she thought about killing herself during her first few weeks in a Russian jail after her 2022 arrest on drug-related charges.
Griner spoke for the first time about her monthslong detention in Russia during an hourlong interview that aired Wednesday night on ABC. Her memoir, “Coming Home,” is set to be released on May 7.
Griner was detained after arriving at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities said a search of her luggage revealed vape cartridges allegedly containing oil derived from cannabis.
Brittney Griner says she thought about killing herself during first few weeks in Russian jail
Russia’s Gazprom to send 42.4 mcm of gas to Europe via Ukraine on Thursday
08:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Russian energy producer Gazprom said it would send 42.4 million cubic metres (mcm) of natural gas to Europe via Ukraine on Thursday, in line with the volume sent on Wednesday.
08:26 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Drone footage shows devastation in Ukrainian city after relentless Russian shelling
Ukrainian drones target energy infrastructure in Russia’s Smolensk region, governor says
08:08 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Ukrainian drones tried to attack energy infrastructure in Russia‘s Smolensk region, governor Vasily Anokhin said on the Telegram messaging app on Thursday.
He did not say what particular facilities had been targeted, but said emergency workers have been deployed. Many drone attacks in recent months have targeted oil refineries and depots.
US hits China with sweeping sanctions over support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
07:59 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The US has sanctioned nearly 300 companies and individuals from China, Russia, and several other countries for allegedly supporting Russia’s defence industry and helping it evade American sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
The US Department of the Treasury said on Wednesday that it had imposed sanctions on nearly 200 entities and the State Department on more than 80 to “degrade Russia’s ability to sustain its war machine” in Ukraine.
The sanctioned entities, located in Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Russia, Turkey, the UAE and Slovakia, have allegedly enabled Russia to “acquire desperately needed technology and equipment from abroad”.
US hits China with sweeping sanctions over support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
Russian ballistic missile strike hits Odesa
07:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
A Russian ballistic missile struck a postal depot in the Ukrainian port of Odesa late on Wednesday, injuring 14 people and triggering a large fire, regional governor Oleh Kiper said.
It was the third missile attack on the city in as many days.
Pictures and a video posted online showed flames and billowing clouds of smoke engulfing buildings and firefighters training their hoses on areas still ablaze. Most of the loading area appeared to have been reduced to a shell.
(via REUTERS)
(AP)
US accuses Russia of using chemical weapons against Ukrainan troops
07:56 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
The United States accused Russia of violating the global ban on chemical weapons by deploying the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops.
Chloropicrin causes severe irritation to the eyes, skin and lungs, and was used in large quantities during World War I, according to the US’s National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.
In a statement on Wednesday, the State Department said: “The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident and is probably driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield.”