Europe-wide intelligence agencies from Germany and the Netherlands have issued alarming claims of Russia’s widespread and regularized deployment of chemical weapons in Ukraine – one of the most serious allegations since Russia launched their full-scale invasion.
On Friday, Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans reported that Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD), along with domestic counterparts and the German BND intelligence services have found concrete evidence that Russian forces are employing chloropicrin–a World War I-era choking agent banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention–via light bulbs or bottles attached to drones in order to drive Ukrainian troops out of trenches and expose them to attack by other forces. Utilised via these unconventional means could render their targets vulnerable against attack from both forces or forces due to weak defense measures from all parties involved;
“Our main conclusion is that Russia is increasing its use of chemical weapons,” Brekelmans told Reuters, calling the trend “worrying.” She advocated tougher sanctions and removal from key international bodies such as the OPCW executive council. For more information and analysis visit aljazeera.com +2, reuters.com +2 and theindependent.com+2.
Reesink reiterated this criticism of Ukraine, noting that their use of banned chemical agents was part of an ongoing “large-scale programme,” including research facilities and new scientist recruitment to boost production; thousands of incidents had already been recorded–with Ukraine claiming over 9,000 attacks with three confirmed fatalities from these incidents; these accounts can be found at The Times (UK), Reuters.com (US), Kyivindependent.com (+8) etc.
Germany’s BND confirmed these findings, noting Russian forces used both tear gas and the more toxic chloropicrin to defend against rebel forces – marking a violation of international law, according to The Guardian and Reuter’s reports. For more on this story, check out: (The-Independent.com +15).
At a critical juncture, Moscow launched its largest drone-and-missile barrage yet on Kyiv just hours after speaking with former U.S. President Donald Trump about ceasefire discussions; both sources reported earlier on kyivindependent.com with similar accusations being levelled against them (The Guardian +3, The Guardian +3)
Western capitals are alarmed at Russia’s timing: is its chemical escalation part of an overall plan to escalate both on the ground and diplomatically? Observers note that normalizing chemical warfare would lower international thresholds for its use and encourage Moscow to employ coercive measures throughout Europe and beyond.
Humanitarian experts warn that chloropicrin exposure causes serious respiratory distress, burns and even death when deployed at high concentrations in enclosed trenches (reuters.com/8 +8 | the-independent.com/8 | aljazeera.com/8 +8)
Moscow has denied these allegations of chemical weapons storage by Ukraine in eastern regions and maintained that any accusations against Russia remain without substance (reuters.com +1 and the-independent.com both).
The Organization for Chemical Weapons Control, or OPCW, previously judged both Russian and Ukrainian claims of chemical weapon use inadequately verified. No official probe was initiated after prior claims; as per The Independent.com + Al Jazeera + Wikipedia there has been no further official investigations following those initial accusations.
Ukraine officials shared international concern, demanding immediate OPCW investigations and tougher global sanctions. A senior Ukrainian military source commented anonymously: “We cannot allow chemical warfare to become routine.”
Experts anticipate that Brussels may soon propose including Russian chemical warfare entities and individuals on its sanctions list. Furthermore, discussions are underway with regard to suspending Russia from the Organization for Chemical Weapons’s Executive Council – but any such move requires consensus among member states.
Russia already faces sanctions from Western nations for using chloropicrin in May 2024–while Ukraine reported over 500 similar chemical attacks up until late 2023 (Polskieradio.pl; Times.co.uk; The Independent; Reuter’s; Wikipedia)
These allegations have increased geopolitical stakes significantly.
As Europe grapples with this unnerving new front, pressure is growing for an immediate and transparent investigation by the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), capable of restoring international trust and discouraging any further chemical escalation on battlefield.