The Russian military is increasingly using chemical weapons on the battlefield and resorting to more toxic agents, according to a joint statement by German and Dutch intelligence agencies published Friday morning.
"We are observing a growing willingness to use such means. The threat posed by Russia’s chemical weapons program is increasing," said Vice Admiral Pieter Reesink, head of Dutch military intelligence.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, in an interview with Reuters, called for stricter sanctions against Moscow. He said the increasing use of chemical weapons "raises serious concerns" and suggests that Russia’s use of banned substances is becoming more "widespread and normalized."
According to Reuters, Russian forces are using drones to drop choking agents into trenches, forcing Ukrainian soldiers to abandon their positions and making them more vulnerable to fire. Specifically, Russia is deploying chloropicrin—a toxic substance that causes suffocation and breathing difficulties. Known since World War I, when it was used in gas attacks, chloropicrin can be fatal in high concentrations. According to Ukrainian authorities cited in the joint intelligence statement, at least three Ukrainians have died as a result of chemical weapons use.
Chemical and biological weapons were banned under the 1925 Geneva Protocol following their widespread use in the trench warfare of World War I. In 1992, the Chemical Weapons Convention expanded the ban to include their development and stockpiling.
The United States had already accused Russia in May of last year of violating this convention due to its use of chemical weapons on Ukrainian territory.
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Photos by Jerome Starkey
