The Russian Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of poisoning some of its soldiers in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s southeastern Zaporizhzhia region in late July. An adviser to Ukraine’s interior ministry said on Saturday in response that the alleged poisoning could have been caused by Russian forces eating expired meat. Several Russian soldiers were taken to a military hospital with signs of “severe poisoning” on July 31. Tests showed a toxic substance, botulinum toxin type B, in their bodies, the Russian Defense Ministry said. “Regarding the event of chemical terrorism sanctioned by [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] The Zelensky regime, Russia is preparing evidence with the results of all analyses,” the ministry said in a statement. He did not say how many soldiers were poisoned or what their condition was now, nor did he specify what the “evidence” included. Botulinum toxin type B is a neurotoxin that can cause botulism when ingested in previously contaminated food, but may also have medical uses. Russia’s defense ministry said its findings would be given to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). “Chemical terrorism evidence from the Kiev regime will soon be officially transmitted to the OPCW through Russia’s permanent mission,” it said.
Expired meat?
Additional investigation is also underway into the possible poisoning of the head of the interim administration of the Kherson region, Volodymyr Saldo, with alleged chemical warfare agents, he added. Saldo, a former mayor of the city of Kherson, who was appointed head of the region of the same name when Russian troops occupied it in early March, fell ill in early August. Ukraine’s defense ministry did not immediately respond to the allegations, but interior ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko weighed in on the claim on the Telegram messaging app. “The Department [Russian defence ministry] it does not specify whether the poisoning could have been caused by expired canned meats, in which botulism toxin is often found. Late rations have been protested en masse by the occupying forces since the first days of the invasion of Ukraine,” he said. Russia said its “special military operation” launched on February 24 is aimed at demilitarizing Ukraine and protecting Russian speakers in what President Vladimir Putin called historic Russian land. Ukraine and Western countries have seen it as an unprovoked war of conquest aimed at eradicating Ukraine’s national identity.
