Donetsk, Jan 21 – DAN. The threat of Ukrainian army using chemical weapons against Donbass Republics persists, the deputy chief-of-staff of the Republican People's Militia Eduard Basurin said.

"CBRN units, part of the 25th brigade, underwent intense training at the Anadol training range, thereby the possibility of the enemy using chemicals for provocations remains. Some chemicals were delivered to Avdeyevka and Krasnyi Liman in late 2021," he saaid.

Ukraine received several shipments of toxic substances from the United States in autumn 2021.

Botulinum toxin causes paralysis and is deadly. Basurin said that the toxin came in metal containers that can be used in grenade launcher attacks, as well as dropped by unmanned aerial vehicles.

Earlier, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the Ukrainian side was preparing a provocation using poisonous substances. It was reported that tanks with unidentified chemical components were delivered to Avdeyevka and Krasnyi Liman. *ot