Putin may launch 'false flag chemical weapons attack' before Ukraine invasion

17 February 2022, 10:17 | Updated: 18 February 2022, 00:08

Ukraine is blaming Russia for a mortar attack that struck a kindergarten.
Ukraine is blaming Russia for a mortar attack that struck a kindergarten. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

Britain and the United States have accused Russia of attempting to "manufacture a pretext" to invade Ukraine amid deepening fears in the West that an attack is imminent.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

At a dramatic session of the United Nations Security Council in New York, US secretary of state Antony Blinken laid out how a Russian incursion could unfold.

"As lead diplomats for our nations we have a responsibility to make every effort for diplomacy to succeed, to leave no diplomatic stone unturned," he said.

Mr Blinken said that while they did not know precisely how a Russian invasion would play out, it could begin with a "violent event" which Moscow would blame on Ukraine.

"It could be a fabricated so-called terrorist bombing inside Russia; the invented discovery of a mass grave; a stage drone strike against civilians; or a fake, even a real attack using chemical weapons," he said.

This could be followed by the Russian government "theatrically" convening emergency meetings to address "the so-called crisis".

"The government will issue proclamations declaring that Russia must respond to defend Russian citizens or ethnic Russians in Ukraine," he said.

"Next, the attack is planned to begin. Russian missiles and bombs will drop across Ukraine. Communications will be banned. Cyberattacks will shut down key Ukrainian institutions.

"After that, Russian tanks and soldiers will advance on key targets that have already been identified and mapped out in detailed plans. We believe these targets include... Ukraine's capital, Kyiv."

Read more: Royal Navy ships patrolling Channel 'too high' to block migrant boats, minister admits

Johnson: Kindergarten attack 'false flag operation' by Russia

Speaking on Thursday evening, the UK Foreign Secretary accused Russia of choosing a "path of confrontation over dialogue".

Liz Truss said: "The Duma's request that Vladimir Putin recognises the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent shows flagrant disregard for Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements.

"If this request were accepted, it would represent a further attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, signal an end to the Minsk process and demonstrate a Russian decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue.

"We urge Russia to end its pattern of destabilising behaviour against Ukraine and to implement the commitments it has freely signed up to, including the Minsk agreements."

It comes after Russian-backed rebels were blamed for shelling a kindergarten in eastern Ukraine in a 'false flag attack', described by Boris Johnson as a "spurious provocation for Russian action".

Ukraine's military said there were no injuries, although two civilians were reportedly suffering from shell-shock in the attack in the Donbass region.

But Russian-backed rebels have made accusations of their own, saying Ukrainian forces had fired across the ceasefire line.

Boris Johnson has since confirmed it was a false flag operation to "discredit the Ukrainians, designed to create a pretext, a spurious provocation for Russian action".

Speaking about the latest developments on a visit to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, the Prime Minister said: "I wish I could give everybody better news about this, but I have to tell you that the picture is continuing to be very grim.

"Today, as I'm sure you've already picked up, a kindergarten was shelled in what we are taking to be - well, we know - was a false flag operation designed to discredit the Ukrainians, designed to create a pretext, a spurious provocation for Russian action.

Read more: Back to the Cold War: Russian threat could last a generation, minister warns

"We fear very much that that is the kind of thing we will see more of over the next few days.

"What we are doing is making that we do everything to strengthen the package of sanctions that will follow immediately should there be a Russian invasion."

The attacks, which reportedly happened in the Donbass region, are said to be on a similar scale to other violations of the ceasefire in recent years.

However, they come at a time of a looming Russian invasion and fears the separatist conflict could be used as justification for an attack.

The attack happened in Stanytsia Luhanska in eastern Ukraine
The attack happened in Stanytsia Luhanska in eastern Ukraine. Picture: Google Maps

The Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said Russia is "clearly the aggressor" in the shelling.

Asked about whether the incident was an attempt to create a pretext for invasion, Liz Truss said: "We have been warning about the likelihood of a false flag operation. That is what we are seeing taking place.

"We are very clear the aggressor in this situation is Russia. We will continue to call out false flag operations.

"We will continue to call out their cyber attacks, and their attempts to undermine Ukraine which is a democratic sovereign country which Russia agreed to respect in various agreements."

Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg was asked this afternoon whether hostilities around Donbass could be used as a pretext for a Russian invasion.

Johnson: Still time to avoid a catastrophe in Ukraine

He said: "We are concerned that Russia is trying to stage a pretext for an armed attack against Ukraine.

"[There] is still no certainty about the Russian intentions, we don't know what will happen, but we do know that Russia has amassed the biggest force we have seen in Europe for decades in and around Ukraine."

He added during a press conference: "Despite Moscow's claims we have seen no sign of withdrawal or de-escalation so far, on the contrary Russia's build up appears to continue.

"We continue to monitor developments very closely."

He said Nato was calling on Russia to "withdraw its forces from the border of Ukraine", adding: "This will be an important first step towards a peaceful political solution."

"Allies are ready to sit down with Russia" to try to reach a diplomatic solution, he said.

He continued: "Nato and allies are helping Ukraine boost its ability to defend itself... self-defence is a right enshrined in the UN charter and allies are helping Ukraine to uphold that right."

Foreign Secretary warns of possible false flag operation in next few days

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told LBC on Tuesday she feared Russia could be plotting a so-called 'false flag' invasion - where they "pretend that there has been provocation from Ukraine in order to justify an invasion".

Tensions have been building between Russia and Ukraine for months, but many believe they could come to a head any day now.

Whilst Moscow has repeatedly denied it is planning an invasion of its neighbour, the amassing of Russian troops on the border and the creation of field hospitals appears to suggest otherwise.

Watch: 'We don't trust them': Foreign Sec fears Russia is plotting 'false flag' invasion

Read more: Eleventh hour peace bid: PM To hold crisis talks as Russia on 'brink of war with Ukraine'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told LBC on Wednesday Russia was "locked and loaded" and "ready" to invade, disputing claims they were withdrawing troops.

"Yesterday we saw Russian forces in some areas leave their assembly areas and go to a more forward deployment area, and also the deployment of field hospitals," he told Nick Ferrari at Breakfast with Tom Swarbrick.

"Russia has the size of forces now gathered and at readiness, locked and loaded to some extent, ready to go should they wish to do so."

Armed Forces Minister warns of imminent threat from Russia

Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that aggression from Russia was the "new normal".

"There are signs from Moscow that diplomacy could continue but so far we have not seen any sign of withdrawal or de-escalation," said Mr Stoltenberg at a meeting of the alliance's defence ministers with counterparts from Ukraine and Georgia.

Read more: Nato chief warns no de-escalation in Ukraine as he urges Russia to 'choose path of peace'

Watch: Back to the Cold War: Russian threat could last a generation, Minister warns

"Russia has yet again demonstrated a disregard for the principles underpinning European security and its ability and willingness to threaten the use of force in pursuit of its objectives.

"Unfortunately, I am afraid this is the new normal which we need to be prepared for."

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Video footage shows the convoy had emergency lights flashing when it was hit

Israel admits ‘mistakenly’ killing 15 aid workers after video leak contradicted official version of events

Jaguar Land Rover has paused shipments to the US in the wake of 'Liberation Day' tariffs

Jaguar Land Rover halts shipments to US in wake of tariffs as Trump insists he'll win 'economic revolution'

Flowers and toys left on a swing seat to commemorate victims killed in Russia's missile attack on Friday

Death toll from Russian strike on Zelenskyy's home town rises as 18 confirmed dead - including nine children

Donald Trump's 10% tariff on UK products has officially come into force

Trump tariffs come into force as global stock markets plunge deeper into the red

Tom Howard

British tourist killed after being struck by boulder on trek through Himalayas

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, a car burns following a Russian missile attack that killed more than a dozen people, including children, in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

Russia kills 16 people including three children in missile strike on Zelenskyy's home town, with dozens wounded

Travel influencer Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, made an illegal visit to North Sentinel Island

Tourist who left Coke for world's most isolated tribe 'could have wiped them all out' - and police 'can't go collect can'

White House weighs in to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

White House looking to support ‘censored’ anti-abortion activists in Britain

This image provided by NASA shows Nick Hague, right, Suni Williams, and Butch Wilmore. (NASA via AP)

Stranded NASA astronauts reveal they were almost trapped in space 'forever' after horror malfunction

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen'

Donald Trump demands France 'free Marine Le Pen' after far-right leader found guilty of embezzlement in 'witch hunt'

China will impose a 34% retaliatory tariff on imports from the US

China announces additional 34% tariffs on US imports in retaliation over Trump's 'Liberation Day' levies

Friends of Prince Andrew say he's "unsurprised" Giuffre made the post

Prince Andrew 'not surprised' his accuser shared shock post saying she had 'four days to live'

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol

South Korea president Yoon Suk Yeol removed from office as impeachment upheld over martial law declaration

Virginia Giuffre

Woman driving Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre during crash that left her with 'four days to live' breaks silence

Exclusive
'Donald Trump has made Putin comfortable,' Mikhail Khodorkovsky has warned

'Trump has made Putin comfortable' despite massive Ukraine war losses, exiled former oligarch tells LBC

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour.

British couple found dead in south of France home being ‘treated as murder-suicide’