Russia Accuses Ukraine of Using American Chemical Munitions Against Russian Troops

In a press briefing today, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Protection (RCBZ) troops, accused the Ukrainian Armed Forces of deploying American-made chemical munitions against Russian troops.

The allegations include the use of gas grenades containing the CS (Tear gas) substance and other irritant chemicals, violating the Chemical Weapons Convention. Kirillov detailed the incidents, pointing to a specific event on December 28, 2023, in the Krasnolimansky tactical direction.

According to Kirillov, a helicopter-type Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) dropped American-made gas grenades filled with CS substance on Russian troop positions. CS is known to cause irritation to the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and in high concentrations, it can lead to skin burns, respiratory paralysis, and cardiac arrest.

The general emphasized that these allegations are not isolated, citing previous instances on April 7 and 23, 2023, where hand grenades labeled “Teren-6” were dropped from drones. These grenades contained irritant chemicals.

Furthermore, on January 31, 2024, an unknown toxic chemical, identified as anthraquinone, was reportedly used, causing burns to the upper respiratory tract, nausea, and vomiting. Anthraquinone is known for its toxic effects, leading to blindness, liver and kidney dysfunction, and it is banned in the European Union due to its carcinogenic nature.

Additionally, Kirillov disclosed that on June 15, 2023, in the area of the village of Rabotino, a drone released a plastic container containing a mixture of chloroacetophenone and chloropicrin against Russian military personnel. Chloropicrin is prohibited even for law enforcement purposes, and repeated cases of its use were recorded in the same area in August 2023.

Kirillov also claimed that the Russian military has information suggesting that the Ukrainian regime, with the assistance of Western supporters, is developing new combat tactics involving a "special chemical belt." This tactic allegedly includes detonating containers with hydrocyanic acid and ammonia during the advance of Russian troops, complicating offensive operations and giving Ukraine time to prepare defensive positions in the Zaporozhye, Kharkov, and Sumy regions.

The plans for large-scale use of toxic substances are supposedly supported by Ukraine's requests for the supply of antidotes, gas masks, and other personal protective equipment.

High-Profile Officials Allegedly Poisoned

Kirillov has further accused the Ukrainian Armed Forces of poisoning prominent figures, specifically targeting LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik and Zaporozhye Governor Vladimir Saldo.

Kirillov claimed that toxic compounds were not limited to military operations but were also being utilized for terrorist acts. The allegations extend to a previously undisclosed incident involving the poisoning of a beekeeper with phenolic compounds on December 5, 2023.

Ongoing investigations are examining several assassination attempts on officials, including the case of Governor Saldo, who was hospitalized in August 2022. Ricin was reportedly detected in his biomedical samples. Additionally, Pasechnik, who assumed office following the 2022 Russian annexation, is said to have been poisoned with phenolic compounds.