<Anchor>



Amid allegations that the Russian military used chemical weapons in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, the US Secretary of State said that it had 'reliable' information that Russia may have used chemical agents.

There were also allegations of the massacre of civilians by the Russian military.



Correspondent Park Won-kyung.



<Reporter> The



Ukrainian Azou Regiment, which is fighting Russian forces in the southern city of Mariupol, claims that the Russians used chemical weapons.



They said through SNS that the victims suffered from breathing difficulties and movement disorders after an unidentified substance was recently dropped from a drone.



Ukrainian President Zelensky also expressed serious concerns.



[Volodimir Zelensky / Ukrainian President: We take very seriously the comments from the Russian military that chemical weapons can be used against Ukrainian forces in Mariupol.]



Pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, have denied the allegations of using chemical weapons. US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said he had reliable information that the Russian military may have used chemical agents.



In Mariupol, where more than 90% of the city's infrastructure has been destroyed, 120,000 residents are isolated and the number of civilian deaths has surpassed 20,000.



Amid allegations of the massacre of civilians by Russian forces in the northwestern city of Bucha in the northwestern capital of Kiiu, President Zelinsky said Russian troops had done the same everywhere they stayed.



On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the allegations of civilian massacre were fake news.