Russia further intensifies its use of chemical weapons in Ukraine
The Netherlands Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD), the Netherlands General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and the German foreign intelligence service 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 conclusion was reached in conjunction with the German foreign intelligence service Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND). This represents an even more serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of this chemical choking agent under any circumstances.
According to MIVD director Vice Admiral Peter Reesink, this intensification is a cause for concern: "This shows that Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons, and at the same time we have noticed a growing readiness to employ such weapons. The threat emanating from the Russian chemical weapons programme is consequently increasing."
Defence minister Brekelmans states: "Russia’s employment of chemical weapons is intensifying. These weapons are being employed systematically and on a large scale. This is a slippery slope. It is completely unacceptable and again demonstrates the brutality of the aggressor Ukraine has to face. We are drawing public attention to this now because the employment of chemical weapons by Russia must not be normalised. Lowering the threshold for the use of this type of weapon poses a danger not only to Ukraine but also to the rest of Europe and the world. This calls for more sanctions, the isolation of Russia and undiminished military support for Ukraine."
Ukrainian victims
The Ukrainian defence 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 defence 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 programme, the country is also expanding its chemical weapons research and recruiting new scientists for the programme.