The U.S. government has formally accused Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine, violating international bans, and announced additional sanctions on Russian entities.
What Happened: The U.S. State Department released a statement accusing Russia of breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by using the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces, CNBC reported on Thursday. The statement also mentioned Russia’s use of riot control agents, or tear gas, as a method of warfare in Ukraine, which also violates the CWC.
The State Department indicated that these actions are not isolated incidents and are likely driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield.
Chloropicrin, once used as a poison gas in World War I, is now primarily used in agriculture as an insecticide. The “choking agent” mainly inflicts injury on the respiratory tract, causing severe irritation to the nose, throat, and especially the lungs.
The U.S. has stated that Russia’s use of such weapons shows an “ongoing disregard” for its obligations to the CWC, a global treaty outlawing the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. Russia is among the 193 countries that ratified the convention.
The U.S. is imposing more sanctions on Russian individuals and entities associated with Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs. The Treasury Department is also sanctioning entities and individuals involved in procuring items for military institutes involved in Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs.
Why It Matters: This latest accusation comes amid a series of escalating tensions in the region. In May, the U.S. condemned Russia for stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. In January, a North Korean ballistic missile landed in Ukraine’s Kharkiv, as recently confirmed by the United Nations. In February, Ukraine accused Russia of using chemical weapons in more than 200 attacks on the battlefield in January alone. Both countries have accused each other of using tear gas in the conflict, with neither producing evidence for their claims.
On Wednesday, Russian defense systems intercepted six U.S.-made missiles launched by Ukraine. The U.S.’s latest accusations and sanctions are part of a broader international response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
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