Russian Ministry of Defense Claims "Multiple Soldiers Show Poisoning Symptoms... Ukraine's Biochemical Terrorism"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Russia claimed that its soldiers were subjected to biochemical terrorism in the Zaporizhzhia region in southeastern Ukraine.

On the 20th (local time), according to TASS news agency and others, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying that many soldiers showed severe poisoning symptoms on the 31st of last month and were transferred to a military hospital, blaming Ukraine for the incident. The Ministry of Defense reported that tests detected type B botulinum toxin in these soldiers.

Type B botulinum toxin poisoning is a neuroparalytic disease caused by a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which exists in soil and other environments. Type B botulinum toxin poisoning can occur when consuming food contaminated with the toxin.

The Ministry of Defense stated, "Based on all analysis results, Russia is preparing to present evidence proving the chemical terrorism carried out by the Ukrainian Vladimir Zelensky regime."

However, it did not mention how many soldiers were poisoned by type B botulinum toxin, their current condition, or what evidence proves Ukraine's involvement.

Additionally, the Russian Ministry of Defense said it is conducting further investigations into the illness that befell Volodymyr Saldo, the head of the pro-Russian administration in the currently occupied southern Kherson, earlier this month.

Ukraine has not officially commented on Russia's claims. However, a Ministry of Internal Affairs official downplayed the significance, suggesting that Russian soldiers might have been poisoned by eating expired canned meat.

Anton Herashchenko, advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, said on Telegram, "The Russian Ministry of Defense did not clearly state whether the toxicosis was caused by botulinum toxin often found in expired canned food," adding, "The issue of expired combat rations has been a major complaint among Russian soldiers since the early days of the invasion of Ukraine."