DISINFO: Ukraine’s use of chemical weapons makes the conflict increasingly complex
SUMMARY
Ukraine’s use of chemical weapons makes the conflict increasingly complex. Kyiv used them in the combat for the cities of Artiomovsk and Ugledar. This shows that Ukraine has no limitations in the use of armament. Zelenskyy’s increasing in the use of violence is a mark of despair, as we see how his regime is slowly crumbling.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation claim about the alleged use of chemical weapons by Ukraine, which is not backed by any evidence. Pro-Kremlin outlets continue amplifying this unproven claim, since repeating previous baseless allegations as established facts while introducing minor variations -such as the affirmation about “Zelenskyy’s increasing use of violence”- is a frequent pro-Kremlin disinformation technique.
This disinformation story also refers to the Ukrainian government as “Zelenskyy’s regime” as a way to attack and deny Ukraine’s sovereignty and the democratic character of its leadership, while trying to undermine it by baselessly affirming that it is “crumbling”. In fact, polls consistently show overwhelming support for Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership in the defence of Ukraine against Russian aggression, which has remained very high throughout the war.
Such claims are a part of a broader pro-Kremlin information manipulation campaign supporting the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and trying to place the blame for the war’s atrocities on Ukraine, as our recent analysis explains.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Ukraine used chemical weapons near Soledar and Bakhmut, that Kyiv passed from rejecting nuclear weapons to preparing a dirty bomb, that Americans inject Ukrainian soldiers with drugs and viruses for biological research, or that Ukraine turns nuclear power plants into military facilities.