Coordinator of the OSCE projects in Ukraine Vaidotas Verba considers the chemical threats in the east of Ukraine to be a serious issue, which was repeatedly warned by the parties to the conflict.
Chemical threats have neither borders nor disengagement lines … briefly, we have already signaled in different formats of negotiations. I worked with people who took part in the Minsk negotiations. We signaled many times that, despite a number of military issues, there are other things that concern people. These [chemical issues] can threaten the population. We tried to convey through all channels to all factions, and the parties that the chemical threat is in fact a very serious issue, he said at a press conference in Kyiv on August 16.
According to him, if there is political will, the sides could find a solution, and the OSCE could help solve the issue of chemical threats to the population of Donbas.
In turn, president of the Council of the International Center for Chemical Safety and Security, Krzysztof Paturej, recalled that the east of Ukraine was one of the centers of the chemical industry of the country. Ukraine is one of the largest producers of chemicals in Europe, as a result of the conflict, some facilities were abandoned where chemicals are simply dumped, which are not under protection, therefore there are real threats regarding chemical issues in eastern Ukraine, the expert said.
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security David Wulf added that chemical infrastructure facilities are considered by attackers as tools for performing certain actions. According to him, chemical substances can be stolen from the facility and used against the population in places of mass gathering of people, diversionary, attacking actions on objects are also possible.
