The Ukrainian authorities are in the process of verifying reports that militants used chemical weapons against the defenders of Donetsk airport, military operation spokesman Andriy Lysenko has said.

"SMM OSCE in its report published evidence of one 'cyborg' [a defender of Donetsk airport] that Russian backed militants used chemical weapon near Donetsk airport. According to the servicemen, many cyborgs coming from the airport had symptoms similar to those received as a result of gas attacks. The authorized agencies now are verifying the [information provided on the] incident," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.