The US state department has accused Russia of using chemical weapons, including tear gas and chloropicrin, against Ukrainian forces. These allegations are in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, an arms control treaty. The state department has stated that the use of such weapons is not an isolated incident and is driven by the desire of Russian forces to dislodge Ukrainian troops and gain tactical advantages on the battlefield. As a response, the US plans to impose sanctions on three state entities and four companies linked to Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs.

Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, has dismissed the accusations as odious and unsubstantiated. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has reiterated Russia’s commitment to its obligations under the treaty that bans chemical weapons.

The Ukrainian authorities have reported numerous cases of suspected chemical weapons use by Russian forces since the invasion began in February 2022. Lt. Col. Artem Vlasiuk, an expert in the Ukrainian army’s department dealing with nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological security, has stated that about 250 cases of suspected chemical weapons use by Russian forces were reported in February, five times the number compared to March 2023. Most of the chemical substances used in the attacks have been identified as CS gas, a tear gas commonly used by riot police. However, when used in warfare, tear gas is considered a chemical weapon according to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Gyunduz Mamedov, Ukraine’s deputy prosecutor general, has reported that tear gas has been used against Ukrainian troops by the Russian army at least 900 times in the past six months, with over 1,400 incidents reported since the start of the war. Additionally, Russian forces have used chloropicrin, a choking agent that causes irritation in the nose, throat, and lungs when inhaled. These chemicals are usually contained in grenades which are thrown at Ukrainian positions, forcing soldiers out of their fortified locations.

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