Ukraine accuses Russia of chemical weapons attack, Moscow says otherwise

Ukraine accused Russia of using toxic chemicals in more than 200 battlefield attacks in January 2024 alone, while Russia also said Ukraine was the one who used them. But neither side has provided evidence.

Tear gas contains toxic chemicals commonly used in various types of grenades. (Source: Reuters)

Ukraine on February 9 accused Russia of using toxic chemicals in more than 200 battlefield attacks in January alone, a sharp increase in the use of this type of weapon since Russia launched a special military operation in February 2022.

The latest statement from the Ukrainian General Staff indicates that CS, or tear gas, is used by Russia in various types of grenades.

"815 cases of the Russian Federation using ammunition containing toxic chemicals have been recorded. Of these, 229 cases occurred in January 2024 alone," the Ukrainian General Staff said.

General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of the "Tavria" combat group based in the southeast, said that the Russian military transported ammunition containing chemicals by drones, and in it he mentioned chloropicrin, a substance used as a poison gas in World War I.

However, Russia has denied using chemical weapons in Ukraine and accused Ukrainian forces of using them, which Kiev also denies. Neither side has provided evidence for the above allegations.

CS gas, widely used by police forces, is banned on the battlefield under the international Chemical Weapons Convention, which states in Article 1: “Each State Party undertakes not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare.”

Earlier, on February 5, Russia also accused the Ukrainian army of using unidentified chemical weapons on drones in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ukraine-to-nga-tan-cong-bang-vu-khi-hoa-hoc-moscow-noi-nguoc-lai-260540.html