Russia accused of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

The German and Dutch intelligence services have warned that Russia is increasing the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, which is 'serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention prohibiting the use of this chemical choking agent under any circumstances.'

Russia is using 'a wide range of chemical weapons with increasing frequency and is not hesitating to employ chloropicrin, a more potent chemical agent, that can be fatal when used in high concentrations," the services stressed in a joint statement published on Friday.

Senior Dutch defence and intelligence officials have issued stark warnings about the growing threat posed by Russia’s use of chemical weapons in its war against Ukraine.

Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans condemned what he described as Russia’s 'systematic and large-scale' use of chemical agents. “This is a slippery slope. It is completely unacceptable and again demonstrates the brutality of the aggressor Ukraine has to face,” he said. “We are drawing public attention to this now because the employment of chemical weapons by Russia must not be normalised. Lowering the threshold for the use of this type of weapon poses a danger not only to Ukraine but also to the rest of Europe and the world.”

Brekelmans called for increased sanctions, further diplomatic isolation of Russia, and continued military support for Ukraine.

Vice Admiral Peter Reesink, director of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD),  stated that the trend is deeply worrying. “This shows that Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons, and at the same time we have noticed a growing readiness to employ such weapons. The threat emanating from the Russian chemical weapons programme is consequently increasing,” Reesink said.

According to the statement, the use of both tear gas and chloropicrin has become standard practice and commonplace among Russian troops.

Moscow denies using chemical weapons, blaming Kyiv instead. However, Dutch defence official referring on Ukrainian defence ministry, noted that Russia had carried out more than 9,000 chemical weapons attacks on Ukrainian troops since the start of the large-scale invasion in 2022. 

"Russia is not only investing heavily in its chemical weapons capabilities but is also expanding its research efforts and actively recruiting new scientists to support the programme," - the statement reads. 

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