In January, Ukraine also accused Russia of using the same chloropicrin as a chemical weapon in violation of the ban treaty.
Russia has used chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, says the US State Department. The United States presented its accusations in the bulletinwhich reported on new sanctions against Russia.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russia has also used riot control substances in violation of the agreement. Substances used for riot control, such as tear gas, are prohibited in warfare according to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
“Using chemicals like this is not an isolated case. Their use has probably been led by the desire of the Russian forces to expel the Ukrainian forces from their fortified positions and to gain tactical victories on the battlefield,” the Foreign Ministry’s press release says.
In January among other things Ukrainska Pravda said that the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also accused Russia of using chloropicrin.
Chloropicrin, which was used as a chemical weapon in the First World War, is now used in agriculture as an insecticide, among other things. Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons OPCW by chloropicrin is classified as an asphyxiant gas that affects the lungs.
Russia has denied that it has an arsenal of chemical weapons intended for military use.
The US State Department placed almost 300 new people or entities on its sanctions list against Russia.