The UK’s armed forces minister says London is working to confirm whether Russian forces have used chemical weapons in Ukraine.

James Heappey tells BBC Breakfast that reports such munitions were used against the besieged southern city of Mariupol have been circulating on Ukrainian social media, but neither British defence intelligence nor their counterparts in Kyiv have been able to verify those claims.

Heappey adds that the UK is “working urgently” to find out if chemical weapons were used. He repeats the UK foreign secretary’s comments on Monday night that Russia will be “held to account” and that any use of chemical weapons is “abhorrent” and “crosses a line”.

If there is proof such weapons have been used then “all options are on the table” in terms of the international response, Heappey says.

“Verifying it is clearly very important,” Heappey adds. “If chemical weapons were used it is a very important moment for our PM [Boris Johnson] and other heads of government around the world.

“President Putin must be aware the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.

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