US condemns use of ‘chloropicrin’ chemical by Russia against Ukraine

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The United States has accused Russia of violating the global ban on chemical weapons by using the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian soldiers and deploying riot control agents “as a method of warfare” in Ukraine.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the US Department of State condemned Russia’s actions and announced new sanctions against entities linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

What is Chloropicrin

Chloropicrin, a nearly colourless oily liquid that causes severe irritation to the eyes, skin, and lungs, was reportedly used by Russian forces in Ukraine. This substance, which was used extensively during World War I, is now banned for use in warfare under the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

Russia denied these accusations, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissing them as unfounded and unsupported.

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According to reports, Russian forces have also used grenades loaded with CS and CN gases against Ukrainian soldiers. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers have been treated for exposure to these toxic substances, and there have been fatalities attributed to suffocation from tear gas.

Gyundoz Mamedov, Ukraine’s former deputy prosecutor general, alleged that tear gas was used against Ukrainian forces numerous times, particularly during the past six months.

The US State Department condemned the use of chloropicrin and other toxic substances by Russia, drawing parallels with Russia’s alleged poisoning incidents involving Alexey Navalny and the Skripal family using Novichok nerve agents.

In response, the US imposed sanctions on several Russian state entities involved in chemical and biological weapons programs, as well as on companies supporting these entities.

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) prohibits the production and use of chemical weapons and requires signatory countries, including Russia and the US, to eliminate any stockpiles of banned chemicals.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has expressed concern about reports of chemical weapon use in Ukraine but has not been formally asked to investigate these allegations.