MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The Russian military has uncovered a militants’ lab for the production of chemical weapons and the storage of its components in the Syrian town of Douma, specialist of Russia’s radiation, chemical and biological protection force in Syria Alexander Rodionov told the Rossiya-24 TV Channel on Tuesday.
"During the inspection of the town of Douma, a chemical laboratory and a chemicals warehouse were found," he said.
"While inspecting them, specialists of the radiation, chemical and biological protection force discovered chemical substances controlled by the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. The specialists found such substances as thiodiglycol and diethanolamine required for obtaining sulfur and nitrogen mustards. Besides, at the warehouse the specialists found a canister with chlorine similar to the chemical used by the militants to stage a disseminated fake episode. A conclusion can be made that this laboratory was used by illegal armed formations for the production of chemical agents," Rodionov said.
Some non-governmental organizations, including White Helmets, claim that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta, on April 7. According to the statement posted on the organization’s website on April 8, chlorine bombs were dropped on the city to kill dozens and poison other local civilians who had to be brought to hospital.
The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed that as fake news. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that White Helmets were an unreliable source, notorious for disseminating falsehoods. The Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Sides on April 9 examined Douma to find no traces of chemical weapons.
On April 14, the United States, Great Britain and France delivered a massive missile strike against Syria’s military and civil infrastructure facilities, claiming that their actions were in response to an alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma by the Syrian government troops.