‘The Russians will use chemical weapons’, expert warns

A 74-year-old Vietnam veteran has made the extraordinary decision to take up a position on Ukraine’s frontline, amid fears a chemical attack is near.

At the start of 2022, 74-year-old American Vietnam veteran Mike Cohan was comfortably slipping into retired life in Montana’s picturesque North West, but a nightmarish scenario unfolding across the globe compelled him to thrust himself back into war.

In late August, the former US Army medic with experience in chemical warfare sold his old Chevy van for cash and headed to Ukraine, fearing a Russian chemical attack was imminent.

The American, who is a diabetic, has had two heart attacks, and walks on an artificial left leg, can offer little in the way of fighting prowess, but his knowledge of medicine and chemicals warfare could prove priceless.

Mr Cohan is a former medic in the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division, which is where he learnt how to take care of casualties of chemical attacks.

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He has pledged to give his “hands and brain” to the Ukrainian cause, telling local media in an emotionally-charged ten minute interview “I could die here”.

“If I do, it would be among men who say ‘Russian warship, fo f**k yourself’,” he said in reference to an incident on Ukraine’s Snake island.

That line was the last communication made during Russian attack on Snake Island in Ukraine’s territorial waters, between border guard Roman Hrybov to the Russian missile cruiser Moskva.

The act of defiance, in particular the quote, has become a catchcry Ukrainians and its supporters since.

Mr Cohan feared Ukraine had backed Russia too far into a corner, saying chemical warefare could be the next phase of the Russian invasion.

“I’m here because Ukraine has been illegally attacked. What has been done to you is the greatest injustice,” he said.

US Vietnam veteran Mike Cohan is in Ukraine teaching medics how to treat casualties of chemical warfare. Picture: UNITED24

“I believe that eventually the Russians will use chemical weapons - they always do.”

“Especially when they’re back into a corner, and you are being very good at backing them into a corner.”

“I want to help you to prepare for it.”

Ukraine’s demonstrated ability to persevere gave Mr Cohan faith the resistance could win the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has not gone to plan, but is chemical warfare on the cards? Picture: Sergei Bobylyov

“Putin made the mistake of sending slaves to conquer free men.” he said.

“You’ve had 30 years of freedom, and you love it.

“You’re not going to gove it up, not in three days, not in five days, not ever.”

Mr Cohan described making the life-changing decision to his local paper in Libby in the days before he left for Ukraine.

“I saw a TV interview where a woman was concerned about the world moving on and ignoring what was happening in her country,” he told The Western News.

TA view of the city of Mariupol. Mike Cohan fears Russia may result to chemical weapons. (Photo by Stringer / AFP)

“Later I saw a Ukrainian medic on a Facebook video and knew he didn’t really know what to do for a wounded soldier. I didn’t blame them, they just didn’t know.”

It was that Facebook video he watched when fighting began that ultimatly led him to reach out to a Colonel in the Ukrainian Army, and a few months later - his boots were on the ground in Ukraine.

While the fighting so far has remained ‘conventional’, there have been a handful of unconfirmed reports of small-scale chemical weapon attacks.

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at The University of Melbourne, Gabriel da Silva, wrote in The Conversation in April: “Russia may have used chemical weapons in its invasion of Ukraine, according to unconfirmed reports from the besieged city of Mariupol last week.”

“To date, however, there is no solid evidence to support these claims,” he continued.

US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued stern plea to his Russian counterpart, telling Russian president Vladimir Putin to not use chemical or nuclear weapons in his war against Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden has pleaded to President Putin to keep fighting in Ukraine ‘conventional’. Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP

“Don’t. Don’t. Don’t,” Mr Biden told 60 Minutes.

“You will change the face of war unlike anything since World War II.”