Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, speaks at a briefing in front of a screen showing Syrian children in a hospital at a briefing at the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow on Friday, April 13. Konashenkov accused Britain of staging a fake chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma last weekend. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, speaks at a briefing as on a screen Syrian medics speak in a video released by Russian Defense Ministry, in Moscow on Friday, April 13, 2018. Konashenkov accused Britain of staging a fake chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma last weekend. He released statements by medics from Douma's hospital, who said a group of people toting video cameras entered the hospital, shouting that its patients were struck with chemical weapons, dousing them with water and causing panic. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov attends talks with his Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra during their meeting in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 13, 2018. Lavrov said Friday Russian experts inspected the site of the alleged attack in the town of Douma and found no trace of chemical weapons. He said Moscow has "irrefutable information that it was a fabrication." (AP Photo/Sergei Poliakov) Pavel Golovkin

Syrians shop at the Hamadiyah market in the Old City of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 12, 2018. The streets of Damascus were packed with people Thursday evening either going out to shop in one of the city's main markets to hanging out with families and friends at the capital's cafes, restaurants and sweets shops, people mostly appeared not concerned about a possible U.S. strike on the country going on with their lives as usual. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Hassan Ammar

Syrians walk past a picture showing Syrian President Bashar Assad with Arabic that reads, "We apologize for your inconvenience, We are working for you. Exit," as shop at the Hamadiyah market in the Old City of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 12, 2018. The streets of Damascus were packed with people Thursday evening either going out to shop in one of the city's main markets to hanging out with families and friends at the capital's cafes, restaurants and sweets shops, people mostly appeared not concerned about a possible U.S. strike on the country going on with their lives as usual. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Hassan Ammar

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov speaks to the media a joint news conference with Dutch Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra following their talks, in Moscow, Russia, Friday, April 13, 2018. Lavrov said Friday Russian experts inspected the site of the alleged attack in the town of Douma and found no trace of chemical weapons. He said Moscow has "irrefutable information that it was a fabrication." (AP Photo/Sergei Poliakov) Pavel Golovkin

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, arrives to speak at a briefing in Moscow on Friday, April 13. Konashenkov accused Britain of staging a fake chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma last weekend. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Alexander Zemlianichenko

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, speaks at a briefing in Moscow on Friday, April 13. Konashenkov accused Britain of staging a fake chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma last weekend. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) Alexander Zemlianichenko

The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday accused Britain of staging a fake chemical attack in a Syrian town outside Damascus, a bold charge vehemently denied by Britain as a “blatant lie.” The exchange follows the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain, and comes amid Moscow’s stern warnings to the West against striking Syria.

A day before a team from the international chemical weapons watchdog was to arrive in Douma, just east of Damascus, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that images of victims of the purported attack were staged with “Britain’s direct involvement, ” without providing evidence.

Britain’s ambassador to the United Nations, Karen Pierce, dismissed Konashenkov’s claim as “a blatant lie.” Pierce said she wanted “to state categorically ... that Britain has no involvement and would never have any involvement in the use of a chemical weapon.”

White Helmets first-responders and Syrian activists have claimed the suspected chemical attack was carried out by the Syrian government on April 7 and killed more than 40 people in Douma, allegations that drew international outrage and prompted Washington and its allies to consider a military response. Moscow warned against any strikes and threatened to retaliate.

Konashenkov released statements he said came from medics at Douma’s hospital, saying a group of people toting video cameras entered the hospital, shouting that its patients were struck with chemical weapons, dousing them with water and causing panic. The statement said none of the patients had any symptoms of chemical poisoning.

Konashenkov said that “powerful pressure from London was exerted on representatives of the so-called White Helmets to quickly stage the premeditated provocation.” He added that the Russian military has proof of British involvement, but didn’t immediately present it.

“This is grotesque,” Pierce said of the Russian statement as she left an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called by Russia on U.S. threatened military action in response to the alleged attack. “It’s some of the worst piece of fake news we’ve yet seen from the Russia propaganda machine.”