The United States accused Russia, this Wednesday (1st), of having used “the chemical weapon chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces”, in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Additionally, Russia has used chemical anti-riot agents such as tear gas “as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the convention,” according to a State Department statement.
“The use of these chemicals was not an isolated incident and is likely motivated by Russian forces’ desire to remove Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield,” the State Department said.
At the same time, Washington announced a new package of sanctions against companies and individuals for helping finance Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to Russian defense companies and Chinese entities, these sanctions also affect several research units and companies involved in Russian chemical and biological weapons programs.
“Russia’s continued disregard of its obligations under the convention is consistent with the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok nerve agents,” the State Department continued.
An opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Navalny died in prison on February 16, under circumstances that have not yet been clarified.
Former Russian double agent Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were poisoned in the UK in 2018.
Russia has declared that it no longer has a military chemical arsenal, but the country faces pressure for greater transparency about the use of this type of weaponry.
According to the American National Institutes of Health (NIH), chloropicrin is a substance that, when inhaled, poses health risks.
