What Would Happen If Putin Used Chemical Weapons in Ukraine?

  • They have poor battlefield utility, create friendly fire risk
  • False flag provocation using common chemicals more likely
WATCH: Brett Edwards of the University of Bath says that military strikes on industrial facilities are potentially a greater risk than the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. Source: Bloomberg
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In recent days, Ukrainian TV stations have been broadcasting messages explaining what to do in the event of a chemical weapons attack, a horrific prospect in an already gruesome war, but one that may also be unlikely.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said there are “real concerns” Russia might resort to using the internationally banned munitions, as it looks to move past its struggles on the ground in its invasion of Ukraine. European nations have expressed similar worries, saying they wouldn’t put it past President Vladimir Putin to do so.