U.S. cannot confirm use of chemical agents in Ukraine's Mariupol -official

An armoured vehicle of pro-Russian troops is seen in the street during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine April 11, 2022. REUTERS/Chingis Kondarov NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States cannot confirm the use of chemical agents in Ukraine's port city of Mariupol at this time, a senior U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said the government was checking unverified information that Russia may have used chemical weapons while besieging Mariupol.