US Accuses Russia of Using Chemical Weapons in Ukraine
In a shocking revelation, the US has accused Russia of deploying chemical weapons as a “method of warfare” in Ukraine, a clear violation of international laws banning their use.
State Department officials have stated that Russia used the choking agent chloropicrin to gain “battlefield advantages” over Ukraine. This alleged act is not an isolated incident and would go against the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which Russia has signed.
However, a Kremlin spokesperson has vehemently denied these accusations, labeling them as “baseless.” Dmitry Peskov, speaking in Moscow, insisted that Russia is committed to upholding its obligations under the CWC, which prohibits states from developing or acquiring new weapons. The CWC has been ratified by 193 states.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a global watchdog overseeing the CWC’s implementation, defines a chemical weapon as a substance used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties.
Chloropicrin, the chemical allegedly used by Russia to “dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions,” is an oily substance that was widely utilized during WW1. It causes irritation of the lungs, eyes, and skin, and can induce symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, according to the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
The use of this chemical in warfare is explicitly banned under the CWC and is classified as a choking agent by the OPCW.
Additionally, the State Department has accused Moscow of regularly deploying “riot control agents,” commonly known as tear gas, during the conflict.
President Biden’s Warning
President Joe Biden previously cautioned Russia against using chemical weapons in Ukraine. In March 2022, shortly after Moscow initiated its invasion, Biden warned that President Vladimir Putin would face severe consequences if chemical weapons were authorized.
“We would respond if he uses it. The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use,” Biden stated.
Despite these warnings, reports suggest that Moscow has disregarded them. US Assistant Secretary for Arms Control Mallory Stewart has alleged that Russia has been using riot control agents in the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has reported an increase in chemical attacks on its troops in recent months, with Russian forces reportedly deploying grenades loaded with CS and CN tear gases. At least 500 Ukrainian soldiers have been treated for exposure to toxic gases, and one soldier died after suffocating on tear gas.
Sanctions and Accusations
Following these allegations, the US sanctioned three Russian entities connected to the country’s biological and chemical weapons program for their involvement in producing chemical agents. Other companies that supported these entities were also sanctioned.
In 2017, the OPCW confirmed that Russia had eliminated its Cold War-era stockpile of chemical weapons, as stipulated by the CWC. However, there have been accusations that Moscow made incomplete declarations regarding its stockpile, according to the UK’s House of Commons library.
Since 2017, Russia has been accused of at least two chemical attacks, including the Salisbury attack on a former Soviet intelligence officer and the 2020 poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Continued Conflict in Eastern Ukraine
As Russian forces continue their advance in eastern Ukraine ahead of Victory Day celebrations on 9 May, the fighting has intensified around Chasiv Yar, a Kyiv-controlled stronghold. Russia aims to capture the town after seizing the city of Avdiivka, likely in preparation for the upcoming celebrations.
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the head of Ukraine’s Security Service’s cyber-security department amid allegations of using his position to retaliate against a journalist reporting on corruption allegations. The journalist was summoned to a military recruitment center, prompting an investigation by military chief Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Human Rights Watch has called for a war crimes investigation after uncovering evidence of Russian forces executing over a dozen surrendering Ukrainian troops between December 2023 and February 2024.
