Russia’s Chemical Weapons Allegations Spark Sanctions and Tensions with Ukraine and the U.S.

In January, Ukraine accused Russia of using chloropicrin as a chemical weapon in violation of the ban treaty. The United States State Department also announced new sanctions against Russia and claimed that the Russian military had used chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces, violating the Chemical Weapons Convention. According to the Foreign Ministry’s press release, Russia has also been found to have used riot control substances in violation of the agreement, such as tear gas, which are prohibited in warfare according to the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Foreign Ministry’s press release suggests that the use of these chemicals is not isolated and may be driven by the Russian forces’ desire to expel Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and gain tactical advantages on the battlefield. Chloropicrin, originally used as a chemical weapon in World War I, is now used in agriculture as an insecticide. Despite accusations, Russia denies having an arsenal of chemical weapons for military use.

The US State Department added almost 300 new individuals or entities to its sanctions list against Russia as part of the ongoing tensions between the two countries. This move was seen as a response to Russia’s continued aggression towards Ukraine and its interference in democratic processes around the world.