Russia has increased its use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, including World War I-era poison gas chloropicrin, according to intelligence agencies from three European countries – the Netherlands, Germany, and others. The Dutch military intelligence and security service found that Russia is using chloropicrin and riot control agent CS against sheltering Ukrainian soldiers, forcing them out into the open where they are shot.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans called for more sanctions against Moscow and continued military support for Kyiv, stating that the use of chemical weapons is becoming “standardized and commonplace” in Ukraine. He criticized Russia’s actions, saying it’s showing its “evil face.”
Russia has signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, banning chloropicrin and CS as weapons, but no full investigation has been conducted on incidents involving CS in Ukraine.
The US State Department reported in 2024 that it had recorded the use of chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops. This development comes after Lt. General Igor Kirillov’s death in December, whose alleged role in using prohibited chemical weapons was confirmed by an informed source in Ukraine’s Security Service. Russia denies using chemical weapons, instead blaming Ukraine for their use.
Ukraine claims that Russia has conducted over 9,000 chemical attacks since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is set to discuss the conflict in its next meeting, where they are expected to examine further evidence.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ramps-up-use-banned-chemical-weapons-ukraine-europe-dutch-german-intel-services-say