Ukraine has joined a joint statement on behalf of 59 countries supporting the strict implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, particularly regarding the prohibition of the use of chemical agents for riot control as a method of warfare.
As reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the statement was made during the 29th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
"We fully agree with the position that the use of chemical weapons and chemical riot control agents as a method of warfare is a serious violation of international law and threatens the achievement of a world free from chemical weapons," the Ministry stated.
The Ministry also reminded that a recent report by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed the presence of chemical elements in evidence provided by Ukraine from the front line, which relate to chemical riot control agents regularly used by the Russian Federation in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
"The joint statement draws particular attention to these violations—numerous reports of the Russian Federation's use of chemical riot control agents and other toxic chemicals at the front line in Ukraine. Since February 2023, the Ukrainian side has documented 4,950 cases of the Russian Federation using munitions containing hazardous chemicals," the Ministry noted.
The Ministry added that in the joint statement, the participating states reaffirmed their readiness to support the strengthening of the OPCW's Technical Secretariat's capacity to assist Ukraine and respond to the use of chemical weapons during the war against Ukraine.
