Ukraine Used US Chemical Weapons Against Russian Troops - MoD
10:28 GMT 19.02.2024 (Updated: 12:34 GMT 19.02.2024)
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia has recorded cases of Ukrainian troops using US chemical munitions during the special military operation, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense troops of the Russian armed forces, said on Monday.
"During the special military operation, cases of US chemical weapons used by the armed forces of Ukraine were recorded," Kirillov told a briefing.
The Ukraine military used US-made chemical grenades dropped from UAVs several times against the Russian armed forces in 2023, and this January, Ukrainian units used an unknown toxic chemical against the Russian troops, which led to burns, nausea and vomiting.
"Ukraine, with the complicity of Western countries, does not limit itself to the use of non-lethal chemicals, but actively using chemicals from the list. I would like to draw attention to the statement by representatives of the Ukrainian armed forces about the availability of such compounds at their disposal, including analogues of the combat toxic substance Tabun, which is included in List 1 of the Convention [on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction]," Kirillov said.
Kherson Region & LPR Heads Survived Poisoning Plots by Ukrainian Forces
In August 2022, Vladimir Saldo, the head of the Kherson region administration, was hospitalized after being poisoned with ricin, a substance detected in his biomedical samples, revealed Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian Chemical Defense Forces.
In December 2023, the head of the Lugansk People Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, suffered a serious poisoning attempt from phenolic compounds, said Kirillov. Prior to that incident, Pasechnik had never experienced any such poisoning attempts.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on the facts of the use of poisonous substances by the Ukrainian military:
On August 19, 2022, a toxic chemical, an analog of the warfare poisoning agent "Bi-Zet," was used.
A similar substance was found on January 28, 2024, during operational-search activities in a cache in Melitopol. It was in vials labeled "Biosporin".
On February 8 and 16, 2023, cases of hydrocyanic acid use with drones were recorded.
On January 31, 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used an unknown toxic chemical that caused burns. Analysis showed the presence of a compound known as anthraquinone.
On December 28, 2023, American-made gas grenades loaded with a substance called "CS" capable of causing skin burns and respiratory paralysis were dropped in the area of Krasny Liman.
On June 15, 2023, a drone carrying a plastic container with a mixture of chloroacetophenone and chloropicrin was used against Russian troops near Rabotino.
Ukraine Plans to Use Chemicals to Complicate Russian Offensive
The Armed Forces of Ukraine plan to use chemicals to impede the offensive of the Russian army in order to get additional time to prepare defensive lines in the Zaporozhye, Kharkov and Sumy regions, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov pointed out.
"It is assumed that such tactics will significantly complicate the activity of offensive operations of the Russian Armed Forces and provide Kiev with additional time to prepare defensive lines in the Zaporozhye, Kharkov and Sumy regions," Kirillov said.
According to him, Ukraine's requests for the supply of antidotes, gas masks and other personal protective equipment indicate plans for the large-scale use of toxic substances.
Ukraine Dropped US Chemical Grenades on Russian Forces
In 2023, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used American-made chemical grenades dropped from drones several times against Russian servicemen, said Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov.
"On December twenty-eighth, 2023, American-made gas grenades loaded with CS substance were dropped from a copter-type UAV on the positions of Russian troops in the Krasny Liman tactical direction. This substance has an irritating effect on the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and in high concentrations can cause skin burns, respiratory paralysis and cardiac arrest. The compound belongs to the class of chemical riot control agents," Kirillov said at a briefing.
He pointed out that the very fact of the supply of such ammunition by the United States in a military conflict is a violation of the article of the Convention, which obliges the State party "never, under any circumstances, directly or indirectly transfer chemical weapons to anyone."
In addition, according to Kirillov, on April 7 and 21 last year, hand grenades with irritating chemicals marked "Teren-6" were dropped on the positions of Russian troops.
He also said that on June 15, a drone with a plastic container filled with the mixture of chloroacetophenone and chloropicrin was used on Russian servicemen in the area of Rabotino in the Zaporozhye region.
"If the first compound is classified as a chemical anti-riot agent, then chloropicrin is listed in Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention and is prohibited for use even for law enforcement purposes. Repeated cases of the use of ammunition loaded with chloropicrin were recorded in the area of the settlement of Rabotino on August 3 and 11, 2023," Kirillov explained.
