Did Russia violate the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in Ukraine during a conflict? For Washington, the answer may well be “yes.” In a press release, the American State Department accuses Moscow of having used chloropicrin against the Ukrainian forces, but also of using anti-riot agents “as a method of war”.
“The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident and is likely motivated by the desire of Russian forces to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield,” the statement said. Department of State regarding chloropicrin, a suffocating agent causing serious lung damage with irreversible effects.
In addition, Russian forces reportedly used grenades loaded with CS and CN gas, derived from or close to tear gas, according to the Ukrainian army. At least 500 Ukrainian soldiers were treated for exposure to toxic substances and one of them is believed to have died of suffocation due to the use of tear gas.
Regular use
This is not the first time that Moscow has been accused of using such weapons during the conflict. And Washington’s accusation corroborates repeated assertions by kyiv. According to the Ukrainian military, Moscow used chloropicrin grenades nearly 230 times in January alone. And 250 times in February.
The U.S. accusation came the same day a Russian ballistic missile attack on the port city of Odessa killed five people and injured at least 13, including an 11-year-old child, the governor said. Oleh Kiper. And this, while kyiv awaits the delivery of American arms and ammunition which has been delayed for several months due to political quarrels in the American Congress. “We need a significant acceleration of deliveries to concretely strengthen the capabilities of our soldiers,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recalled on Tuesday.
New US sanctions against companies and people
The US State Department announced on Wednesday a new wave of sanctions targeting Russian or foreign companies or individuals considered to be participating in the Russian war effort in the invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to Russian defense companies, these sanctions target around sixty foreign people and companies, particularly Chinese, accused of “helping Russia acquire key components for the manufacture of weapons or defense programs,” indicates a statement.