U.S. Accused Russia Of Using Chemical Weapons

 

The U.S. accused Russia of violating a global ban on chemical weapons by using them against Ukrainian troops.

The State Department said in a statement that Russia had used chloropicrin, a “choking agent” widely used during World War I, as well as tear gas. Both of them are prohibited during warfare under the Chemical Weapons Convention, an arms control treaty ratified by more than 150 countries, including Russia.

Attacking with the chemicals was “not an isolated incident,” and they were probably used to drive Ukrainian forces out of fortified positions, the State Department said.

The Ukrainian authorities have reported about 1,400 cases of suspected chemical weapons use by Russia since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The officials said that the rate has accelerated as Moscow has pressed ahead with attacks along the front lines.