Russia is intensifying attacks using banned chemical substances

Ukraine has accused Russia of intensifying attacks on the frontline using banned hazardous chemicals, including tear gas.

On June 24, Ukrainian military officials stated that in May, they documented 715 cases of Russian military using ammunition containing "dangerous chemical compounds." According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces Support Command, this figure represents an increase of 271 cases compared to the previous month.

"The main means of delivery are K-51 and RG-Vo (862-3-23) hand grenade from UAVs. In total, from February 15, 2023, to May 24, 2698 instances of hazardous chemical substance use by Russians were recorded. During this period, 1385 cases of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel seeking medical attention for various degrees of chemical exposure symptoms were recorded, with 215 cases in May alone. The use of chemical weapons or riot control agents as a means of warfare violates the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and mandates their destruction," reported the Geeral Staff.

On May 1, the U.S. State Department accused Russia of using the chemical agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian military personnel in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. This accusation coincided with the announcement of sanctions against Russia by the State Department, including targeting Russian military units responsible for radiation, chemical, and biological defense. The Russian Ambassador to the U.S. denied the accusations, labeling them as "baseless."