The United States has leveled accusations against Russia, alleging the deployment of chemical weapons as a “method of warfare” in Ukraine, which violates international laws prohibiting their use.
According to State Department officials, Russia employed the choking agent chloropicrin to gain “battlefield advantages” over Ukraine.
These allegations, deemed by US officials as not isolated incidents, would defy the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), a treaty that Russia is a signatory to.
However, a Kremlin spokesperson dismissed these allegations as “baseless.” Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to its obligations under the CWC, which forbids states from developing or acquiring new weapons. The convention has been ratified by 193 states.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a global watchdog tasked with overseeing the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), defines a chemical weapon as a substance intended to cause deliberate harm or death through its toxic properties.
Chloropicrin, the chemical cited by the US as being used by Russia to “dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions,” is an oily substance historically employed during World War I. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it induces irritation of the lungs, eyes, and skin, along with symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea.
Under the Chemical Weapons Convention, the use of chloropicrin in warfare is explicitly prohibited, and it is classified as a choking agent by the OPCW.
Additionally, the State Department asserts that Moscow has frequently employed “riot control agents,” including tear gas, during the conflict.
President Joe Biden has previously cautioned Russia against the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. In March 2022, shortly after Moscow initiated its invasion, Biden pledged that President Vladimir Putin would face severe consequences if chemical weapons were authorized for use.
“We would respond if he uses it. The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use,” Mr. Biden stated.
However, consistent reports suggest that Moscow has disregarded this warning. US Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Mallory Stewart, previously indicated that Russia had deployed riot control agents in the conflict.
Additionally, Ukraine has reported an increase in chemical attacks against its troops in recent months. According to Reuters, Russian forces have utilized grenades containing CS and CN tear gases. The report further noted that over 500 Ukrainian soldiers required treatment for exposure to toxic gases, with one fatality attributed to suffocation from tear gas.
In response to these developments, the US State Department has imposed sanctions on three Russian entities associated with the country’s biological and chemical weapons program. Additionally, several firms linked to these government entities have also faced sanctions.
