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U.S. Accuses Russian Military of Using Chemical Weapons in Ukraine
The White House announced new rounds of targeted sanctions against Russian government.
Photo by Artem Beliaikin
The U.S. State Department has accused the Russian military of employing chemical weapons in Ukraine, violating the international Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). In a notification to Congress on Wednesday, the State Department cited the use of chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces, as well as the use of riot control agents, both in violation of the CWC.
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Chloropicrin, a chemical weapon first used during World War I, was allegedly used by Russian forces in an effort to dislodge Ukrainian troops from fortified positions and gain tactical advantages on the battlefield. The U.S. government’s determination aligns with previous Ukrainian government and media reports alleging chemical attacks.
Ukrainian Azov units claimed injuries from an unknown poisonous substance near Mariupol in April 2022, prompting concerns and investigations from international officials. Additionally, the Ukrainian military General Staff claimed that Russian forces had employed chemical weapons on numerous occasions since the start of the conflict.
In response to these allegations, President Joe Biden’s administration announced new rounds of targeted sanctions against Russian government and military entities believed to be involved in state chemical weapons programs. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the accusations as unfounded, reiterating Russia’s commitment to international law.
The accusations of chemical attacks have been exchanged between both sides in the conflict, with the Russian Ministry of Defense alleging hospitalizations of troops due to botulinum toxin exposure and the Ukrainian government denying accusations of chemical weapon use.
