Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine

What you see here is extremely rare: a joint disclosure message from the intelligence services: Russia is increasing its use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The Dutch military intelligence service (MIVD), the Dutch intelligence service (AIVD), and the Bundesnachrichtendienst  (BND) announced this in a joint publication.

The MIVD, the AIVD and the BND warn that Russia’s use of chemical weapons in Ukraine is intensifying. This is a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans today informed the House of Representatives that Russia is using a wide range of chemical weapons with increasing frequency and is not hesitating to employ more potent agents such as chloropicrin.

It was already known that Russia is using teargas in Ukraine, but MIVD, AIVD and BND can now confirm that Russia is also employing chloropicrin, a more potent chemical agent that can be fatal when used in high concentrations in enclosed spaces. This represents an even more serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of this chemical choking agent under any circumstances.

Ukrainian victims

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry states that Russia has carried out more than 9,000 chemical weapons attacks on Ukrainian troops since the start of the large-scale invasion in 2022. According to Ukraine, at least three deaths can be directly attributed to exposure to chemical weapons.

Indirectly, Russia’s use of chemical weapons has led to far greater numbers of Ukrainian victims as it has forced many Ukrainian troops to break cover, allowing them to be killed using conventional weapons.

Russian intensification

MIVD, AIVD and BND observe that Russia’s military leadership, as well as the Russian radiological, chemical and biological defense troops, support the use of chemical agents and are actively facilitating their employment. The use of both teargas and chloropicrin by Russian troops has now become standard practice and commonplace and will highly probably remain a threat in the future.

In addition to the massive investments in Russia’s chemical weapons program, the country is also expanding its chemical weapons research and recruiting new scientists for the program.