MOSCOW, April 12 — Russian-backed separatist forces did not use chemical weapons in their attempts to take full control of the city of Mariupol despite Ukrainian allegations to the contrary, Eduard Basurin, a separatist commander, told the Interfax news agency today.

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said earlier today that Kyiv was checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging the southern Ukrainian port city. — Reuters