Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich was among a group who suffered symptoms consistent with poisoning after attending peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Ukraine.
The Russian oligarch is understood – along with at least two Ukrainian negotiators – to have developed red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands since the meeting at the start of the month, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Sources told the PA news agency Mr Abramovich had now recovered and was continuing to try to help with the negotiations.
It is understood the oligarch had been involved in talks about securing humanitarian corridors to allow Ukrainians to leave, and bringing other countries to the negotiating table.
The WSJ reported that it was believed the suspected attack had been orchestrated by hard-liners in Russia who wanted to sabotage the talks.
Bellingcat can confirm that three members of the delegation attending the peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on the night of 3 to 4 March 2022 experienced symptoms consistent with poisoning with chemical weapons. One of victims was Russian entrepreneur Roman Abramovich. https://t.co/DJaZ4CoL8J
— Bellingcat (@bellingcat) March 28, 2022
The WSJ said Mr Abramovich met president Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the trip, but the Ukrainian leader was not affected, and his spokesman had no information about the alleged incident.
A spokesman for the businessman previously said he was playing a “limited” role in trying to find a “peaceful resolution” between the two countries.
Mr Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government earlier this month over his connections with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The government described him as “a prominent Russian businessman and pro-Kremlin oligarch” who is “associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilising Ukraine and undermining and threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine” – Mr Putin.
The UK government said Mr Abramovich had received financial benefits from the Kremlin, including tax breaks for his companies, the buying and selling of shares from and to the state at favourable rates, and contacts in the run-up to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“He is one of the few oligarchs from the 1990s to maintain prominence under Putin,” a statement said.
Mr Abramovich has denied any association with the Russian regime.
