A tank of Russian troops drives in Russian-held a part of Zaporizhzhia area, Ukraine, July 23, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Photograph

Aug 20 (Reuters) – Russia’s defence ministry accused Ukraine on Saturday of poisoning a few of its servicemen within the Russian-controlled a part of Ukraine’s southeastern area of Zaporizhzhia in late July.

An adviser to Ukraine’s inside ministry mentioned in response that the alleged poisoning may have been attributable to Russian forces consuming expired canned meat.

The Russian defence ministry mentioned plenty of Russian servicemen had been taken to a navy hospital with indicators of significant poisoning on July 31. Exams confirmed a poisonous substance, botulinum toxin sort B, of their our bodies, it mentioned.

“On the very fact of chemical terrorism sanctioned by the (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy regime, Russia is getting ready supporting proof with the outcomes of all of the analyses,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement.

It didn’t say what number of servicemen had suffered or what their situation was now. It didn’t say what the “supporting proof” was.

Botulinum toxin sort B is a neurotoxin that may trigger botulism when ingested in beforehand contaminated meals merchandise, however it might even have medical makes use of.

Ukraine’s defence ministry didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark, however inside ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko commented on the Russian allegation on the Telegram messaging app.

“The division (Russian defence ministry) doesn’t make clear whether or not the poisoning may have been attributable to expired canned meat, during which botulinum toxin is usually discovered. Overdue rations have been massively complained about by the occupying forces because the first days of the invasion of Ukraine,” he mentioned.

The Russian defence ministry mentioned it was conducting a further investigation into an incident during which Volodymyr Saldo, the Russian-installed administration in Ukraine’s occupied Kherson area, was taken sick.

Saldo, a former mayor of town of Kherson who was appointed to go the area of the identical identify when Russian troops overran it in early March, fell sick in early August. read more

Russia says its “particular navy operation” launched on Feb. 24 is aimed toward demilitarizing Ukraine and defending Russian audio system on what President Vladimir Putin referred to as historic Russian land.

Ukraine and Western international locations view it as an unprovoked warfare of conquest aimed toward wiping out Ukraine’s nationwide identification.

Reporting by Reuters; enhancing by Timothy Heritage

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