• US officials accuse Russia of using chemical weapons as a warfare method in Ukraine, violating international laws.
• Russia uses the choking agent chloropicrin to secure “battlefield gains” over Ukraine.
• Russia denies the accusations, stating it stands by its obligations under the CWC.

State Department officials accused Russia of deploying chemical weapons as a “method of warfare” in Ukraine, in violation of international laws banning their use. They stated that Russia used the choking agent chloropicrin to secure “battlefield gains” over Ukraine. US officials emphasized that the allegations, which they said were not an “isolated” incident, would contravene the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), a treaty that Russia signed.

The Kremlin rejected the accusations, dismissing them as “baseless.” Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow that Russia stood by its obligations under the CWC, which prohibits states from developing or acquiring new weapons. He emphasized that the convention has been ratified by 193 states.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a global watchdog overseeing the implementation of the CWC, defines a chemical weapon as a substance used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties.

The US alleges that Russia has used chloropicrin to “dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions.” Chloropicrin, an oily substance widely employed during World War One, irritates the lungs, eyes, and skin. According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it can induce vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. The CWC expressly prohibits the use of this chemical in warfare, and the OPCW lists it as a choking agent.

The State Department also stated that Moscow had regularly used “riot control agents,” or tear gas, during the war. President Joe Biden had previously warned Russia against deploying chemical weapons in Ukraine. In March 2022, weeks after Moscow launched its invasion, Mr. Biden vowed that President Vladimir Putin would pay a “severe price” if he authorized the use of chemical weapons.

“We would respond if he uses it. The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use,” Mr Biden said.

But consistent reports indicate that Moscow has ignored that warning. US Assistant Secretary for Arms Control Mallory Stewart previously stated that Russia was using riot control agents in the conflict. Additionally, Ukraine reports that its troops have faced mounting chemical attacks in recent months. Earlier this year, the private news agency reported that Russian forces had used grenades loaded with CS and CN tear gases.

The report further stated that at least 500 Ukrainian soldiers had been treated for exposure to toxic gases and that one had died after suffocating on tear gas.

The State Department sanctioned three Russian individuals linked to the country’s biological and chemical weapons program for their involvement in the production of chemical agents. Additionally, other firms that contributed to the government entities were also sanctioned.

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