Russian forces have reportedly conducted over 11,000 chemical weapon attacks since the onset of their full-scale invasion of Ukraine, impacting at least 3,000 Ukrainian troops with toxic agents, according to a statement from Kyiv’s military on Sunday. This alarming statistic, presented by the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Directorate, underscores the grim tactics employed by Russian forces as the conflict enters its fourth year.
In light of these developments, Dutch and German intelligence services had previously warned that Moscow was intensifying its use of chemical weapons, raising concerns about potential war crimes under international law. Colonel Artem Vlasiuk, who leads the CBRN Defense Directorate’s Civil Protection Department, highlighted the specific munitions being used, including K-51 and RGVO tear-gas grenades, alongside improvised explosives containing chlorine and ammonia. These chemical agents, he explained, are strategically deployed to “smoke out” Ukrainian defenders from fortified positions where typical military strategies have proven ineffective.
Ihor Diak, head of the CBRN Defense and Acting Commander, acknowledged that the reported 3,000 cases only include verified instances of poisonings or exposures. He cautioned that the actual number may be significantly higher, as many casualties might not be evacuated or assessed in a timely manner. “We are only naming figures that are officially confirmed and documented,” Diak emphasized.
Ukrainian officials also noted that their statistics solely reflect confirmed injuries and incidents of chemical poisoning, without providing data on fatalities directly linked to these attacks. Vlasiuk pointed out that establishing a death caused by chemical exposure requires a comprehensive review, which includes conducting interviews with affected soldiers, inspecting their equipment, and evaluating the operational site.
Ukraine has consistently accused Russia of breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty that prohibits the use of toxic agents in warfare. In December 2024, Ukrainian authorities documented upward of 4,800 chemical weapon-related incidents leading to more than 2,000 hospitalizations. Furthermore, in November 2024, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed the presence of riot control agents in various grenade and soil samples during a field visit and subsequent analyses.
According to the Chemical Weapons Convention, riot control agents are classified as chemicals that can swiftly induce sensory irritation or disabling effects in humans, but these effects typically dissipate shortly after exposure ends. The ongoing use of such agents highlights the increasingly dire situation on the battlefield and raises serious questions about compliance with international standards amid escalating hostilities in the region.
