The United States has made serious allegations against Russia, accusing it of employing World War One-era choking agents in Ukraine, raising the specter of chemical warfare and contravening established global accords designed to banish such weapons from the battlefield.
According to formal statements from the US State Department, Moscow has deployed chloropicrin—a toxic substance that irritates the lungs, eyes, and skin, and can lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea—against Ukrainian troops. This substance, largely regarded as obsolete for warfare, was once used extensively during World War I and is now prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to which Russia is a signatory.
The State Department has outlined a pattern of behavior that points to the strategic use of such weapons: “The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident, and is probably driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield.” This echoes testimonies from Ukrainian troops who have reported increasing encounters with gas and other irritant chemicals across their frontlines.
The US has also noted the use of “riot control agents,” including tear gas, as part of Russia’s warfare tactics, which is also a violation of the CWC. This builds on a disturbing pattern of allegations against Russia, including the highly publicized poisonings of Kremlin opponents Sergei Skripal and Alexey Navalny, both incidents involving the nerve agent Novichok.
As a repercussion of these transgressions, the US has acted to impose a raft of sanctions targeting Russian government entities and firms believed to be connected to the country’s chemical and biological weapons programs. It is stated that the sanctions are aimed at “re-imposing restrictions on foreign military financing, US Government lines of credit, and export licenses for defense articles and national security-sensitive items going to Russia,” according to the US State Department.These sanctions collectively represent a tightening of the economic vice on Russia’s war machinery.
The use of chemical weapons constitutes a breach of international law, and Russia, having ratified the treaties against them, claims to have no chemical weapons in its arsenal. Yet, the current accusations and the pattern of behavior outlined by the US raise serious questions about Moscow’s commitment to international norms and the risks posed to global security.
On the ground, the impact is stark and personal for Ukrainian soldiers, as detailed reports suggest that at least 500 soldiers have been treated for exposure to toxic substances, with some facing severe injuries.
Relevant articles:
– Russia using choking agents in Ukraine, US says, BBC, 05/02/2024
– US says Russia used choking agents against Ukrainian troops, breaching chemical weapons ban, CNN, 05/02/2024
– US accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine war, Al Jazeera English, 05/02/2024
– Russia using chemical choking agents in Ukraine, US says, BBC, 05/02/2024
– U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, in breach of global ban, NBC Connecticut, 05/02/2024