Russia has intensified its use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian soldiers, violating international law, according to Dutch and German intelligence agencies. The agencies reported extensive evidence of Moscow’s forces using banned products, including the choking agent chloropicrin.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans described the use of chemical weapons as “horrible and unacceptable” and called for tougher sanctions against Russia.
Brekelmans stated that at least three Ukrainian deaths had been linked to Russian chemical weapons, with over 2,500 people reporting symptoms related to the banned products. “It is normalised and widespread.
Chloropicrin is dropped by drones to drive soldiers out of trenches, and then kill them,” Brekelmans said in a post on X. Peter Reesink, head of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service, confirmed thousands of instances of chemical weapons use by Russia, emphasizing that it’s part of a large-scale program.
The Russian army is reportedly using tear gas and chloropicrin, which can be lethal in high concentrations in enclosed spaces. Germany’s BND foreign intelligence agency corroborated the findings, noting that this represents a serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. “This isn’t just some ad-hoc tinkering at the front line; it is truly part of a large-scale programme,” Reesink added.
Brekelmans suggested increasing pressure on Russia through more sanctions and excluding them from international bodies like the Executive Council of the OPCW. “We must further increase the pressure.
This means looking at more sanctions and specifically not allowing them (Russia) to participate in international bodies like the Executive Council of the OPCW,” he said. The OPCW previously stated that Russian and Ukrainian accusations of using banned weapons were “insufficiently substantiated”.
The allegations come as Ukraine reported its largest-ever Russian drone and missile attack, with Moscow firing 539 drones and 11 missiles overnight, injuring at least 23 people and damaging infrastructure.
US President Donald Trump discussed the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing disappointment and stating he would discuss the conflict with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The US has halted some weapons deliveries to Kyiv promised under the Biden administration.
Key Developments:
- Chemical Weapons Use: Russia accused of using chloropicrin and tear gas against Ukrainian soldiers, resulting in at least three deaths and over 2,500 reported symptoms.
- Sanctions: Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans calls for tougher sanctions against Russia, including exclusion from international bodies like the OPCW.
- US-Russia Relations: US President Donald Trump expresses disappointment in phone call with Vladimir Putin, while discussing conflict with Ukraine.
- US Weapons Deliveries: US halts some weapons deliveries to Kyiv promised under the Biden administration, amid Russia’s intensified attacks.