The United States has accused Russia of breaking the law by using chloropicrin, a prohibited choking agent, against Ukrainian troops.
The State Department also claims that Russia has been using riot control agents to gain advantages in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to the State Department, the use of these chemicals is likely driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian troops from fortified positions and gain tactical advantages on the battlefield.
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- The US accuses Russia of violating the global chemical weapons ban by deploying chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops.
- Russia allegedly used riot control agents as a method of warfare, resulting in casualties among Ukrainian soldiers.
- The US imposes sanctions on Russian entities linked to chemical and biological weapons programs in response to the allegations.
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Russia Accused of Violating Chemical Weapons Ban in Ukraine War, US Imposes Sanctions
The deployment of chloropicrin, a substance listed as a banned choking agent by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), is a clear violation of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
The Ukrainian military has reported that in addition to chloropicrin, Russian forces have been using grenades loaded with CS and CN gases.
These actions have resulted in at least 500 Ukrainian soldiers receiving treatment for exposure to toxic substances, with one soldier losing their life due to suffocation from tear gas.
In response to these allegations, the United States has imposed sanctions on three Russian state entities linked to Moscow’s chemical and biological weapons programs, as well as four Russian companies that support these entities.
The sanctions aim to freeze any U.S. assets belonging to the targeted entities and prohibit Americans from conducting business with them.
The Treasury Department has also sanctioned three entities and two individuals involved in purchasing items for Russian military institutes connected to the country’s chemical and biological weapons programs.
These sanctions are part of a broader package of measures announced by the United States targeting Russia over its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Chemical Weapons Convention, which has been ratified by 193 countries, including Russia and the United States, prohibits the production and use of chemical weapons.
Signatories are also required to destroy any stocks of banned chemicals.
Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of breaching the treaty in OPCW meetings, but the organization has not yet been formally asked to open an investigation into the use of prohibited substances in the conflict.
As the war in Ukraine continues, the international community will closely monitor the situation and the response from the OPCW regarding these serious allegations.
The use of banned chemical substances in warfare is a grave concern, and the United States’ decision to impose sanctions on Russian entities sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated.
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