In a chilling development in the Russia-Ukraine war, a Russian billionaire and some Ukrainian officials might have been poisoned, as per reports. The Wall Street Journal reported that Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian officials part of the negotiations with Russia exhibited symptoms which pointed at a possible poison attack.
Abramovich, famous for his ownership of the Chelsea football club, and two senior Ukrainian officials reportedly developed worrying symptoms after a meeting in Ukraine's capital Kyiv earlier in March. They suffered from peeling skin on hands and face, constant and painful tearing, and red eyes, as per the WSJ report.
Abramovich has reportedly been travelling between Moscow, Kyiv, and Lviv, among other places to push for an end to fighting. Earlier, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly said that Abramovich has been trying to help Ukraine amid an intense and prolonged war.
The Russian billionaire has been targeted with sanctions by the United Kingdom. Abramovich and the Ukrainian officials' condition is reportedly better now, and their lives are not in danger. Hard-liner Russian officials may have been behind the incident, if it does turn out to be a poison attack.