Kyiv, Ukraine – The United States has accused Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine as a method of warfare, violating international laws prohibiting their use. State department officials have alleged that Russia employed the choking agent chloropicrin to gain an advantage over Ukrainian forces in battle.
The accusations, according to US officials, indicate a pattern of behavior by Russia that goes against the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which the country has signed. While the Kremlin has not responded to these specific claims, it has previously denied similar allegations.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), responsible for overseeing the implementation of the CWC, defines chemical weapons as substances intended to cause harm through their toxic properties. Despite Russia’s prior claims of destroying its Cold War-era stockpile of these weapons, concerns have been raised about incomplete declarations and allegations of ongoing chemical attacks.
In recent years, Russia has been accused of multiple chemical attacks, including the poisoning of former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal in Salisbury and the attempted assassination of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The use of chloropicrin, a substance prohibited under the CWC, raises serious concerns about Russia’s actions in the conflict.
President Joe Biden has warned Russia against the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, stating that there would be severe consequences for such actions. However, reports of chemical attacks on Ukrainian troops continue to emerge, with soldiers facing exposure to toxic gases and suffering the consequences of these banned weapons.
Amid escalating tensions, the US has imposed sanctions on Russian entities linked to biological and chemical weapons programs. Russia, on its part, continues to deny any involvement in deploying chemical weapons in the conflict, stressing that no such weapons are in its military stockpiles as confirmed by international investigations.
As the situation in Ukraine intensifies, with Russian forces advancing and clashes taking place in various regions, concerns about war crimes and violations of international norms persist. Human Rights Watch has called for an investigation into reports of Russian forces executing surrendering Ukrainian troops, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing conflict.