Putin Threatens Ukraine With 'Weapons Of Unprecedented Characteristics'

Vladimir Putin is showing no sign of backing down as he threatens to use 'weapons of unprecedented characteristics'.

The Russian leader arrived in the far eastern region of Amur to visit a space port in tribute of the Soviet’s first manned space mission. 

Putin also held a press conference where he vowed Russian military will use 'weapons of unprecedented characteristics'.

This follows unconfirmed reports of illegal chemical weapon usage by Russia in Ukraine.

In Mariupol, a Ukrainian regiment defending a steel mill alleged a drone dropped a poisonous substance on the city. 

The assertion made by the Azov Regiment (a far-right group, now part of the Ukrainian military) could not be verified. 

The regiment also indicated there were no serious injuries.

A Russia-allied separatist official also appeared to promote the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Eduard Basurin told Russian state TV on Monday, 11 April, that separatist forces should seize the plant by first blocking all the exits. 

“And then we’ll use chemical troops to smoke them out of there,” he said. 

However, Basurin denied that separatist forces had used chemical weapons in Mariupol.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that while experts try to determine what the substance might be, 'the world must react now'.

Zelensky's official telegram account announces that SBU caught the fugitive oligarch and Putin's close friend Viktor Medvedchuk. Camouflage and all. pic.twitter.com/DkWa5xlOEq

— Christo Grozev (@christogrozev) April 12, 2022

It has also been alleged that the Ukrainian secret service has captured pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who had a treason case opened against him by Ukrainian authorities last year.

In the past Medvedchuk has said that Russian president Vladimir Putin is godfather to his daughter.

Pictures of the captured politician were shared to Twitter, with the caption: "Zelensky's official telegram account announces that SBU caught the fugitive oligarch and Putin's close friend Viktor Medvedchuk. Camouflage and all."

Medvedchuk, the leader of the ForLife political party, had been interviewed in 2018 by The Independent. While he gave little clarity on his political aspirations, he said: "The government has no influence on life in the country. It has no monopoly of force."

The politician was said to have escaped house arrest three days before Putin launched his invasion on Ukraine on 24 February.

However, a lawyer for Medvedchuk denied the allegation and said he had instead moved locations due to threats from nationalist groups.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information