According to Kirillov, on February 22, an influential US non-governmental organization held a conference on the events in Ukraine, and former US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan made a statement, which, in particular, said that Russian troops planned to use chemical weapons in the area of (what Russia calls) the "special military operation", Sputnik reported.
"We regard this information as the intention of the United States itself and its accomplices to carry out a provocation in Ukraine using toxic chemicals," Lt. Gen. Kirillov said.
He said Washington hopes that during hostilities it will not be possible to properly investigate the planned US chemical provocation in Ukraine, but added that in case the provocation does take place, the Russian Defense Ministry will identify and punish the true culprits.
Lt. Gen. Kirillov said the United States is likely to try to use the BZ military incapacitating agent (3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate) in Ukraine.
"We warn that in case of provocations with the use of toxic chemicals, we will identify and punish the true culprits", he stressed
A train carrying a cargo of chemicals arrived in the Ukraine-controlled city of Kramatorsk in Donbass earlier this month and delivered to the line of contact. It consisted of 16 sealed metal boxes, eight of which had a chemical hazard sign, the inscription "BZ" and marking with two red lines, which corresponds to the class of poisonous substances with a temporary detoxifying effect, according to Kirillov.
"The cargo was placed on US-made armored vehicles, which, as part of the convoy, left for the line of contact," he added.