POLITICO
The U.S. on Wednesday accused Russia of violating the international chemical weapons convention by using chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces.
“The use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident and is probably driven by Russian forces’ desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield,” the state department said, as it sanctioned entities associated with Russia’s chemical and biological weapons programs.
Chloropicrin, which is no longer authorized for military use, is an irritant with characteristics of a tear gas, and was largely used during World War I as a chemical warfare agent, according to the U.S-based Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC).
Russia has been carrying out a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, and The Hague-based International Criminal Court issued a war crimes arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.
“The United States will continue to use the tools at its disposal to disrupt support for Russia’s military-industrial base and curtail Russia’s use of the international financial system to further its war against Ukraine,” the state department said.
“We continue to stand in solidarity with Russians striving for a more democratic future and with Ukrainians defending their homeland from Russia’s aggression,” it added.
