The US State Department leveled accusations against Russia on Wednesday, alleging the use of a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
Simultaneously, the department announced the imposition of fresh sanctions against Moscow. According to a factsheet released by the State Department, Russia utilized the chemical agent chloropicrin along with “riot control agents (tear gas)” as a method of warfare in Ukraine, further breaching the CWC.
The department asserted that such actions are not isolated incidents and likely stem from Russian forces’ intentions to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and gain tactical advantages on the battlefield.
Concurrently, the US Treasury Department unveiled extensive sanctions aimed at severely impairing Russia’s military and industrial capabilities. This includes targeting nearly 300 entities in Russia, China, and other nations accused of supporting President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions specifically aim to penalize companies facilitating Moscow’s acquisition of weapons for its war efforts. Moreover, they focus on Russian government entities and companies involved in the nation’s chemical and biological weapons programs.
Despite Russia’s claims of no longer possessing a military chemical arsenal, the country faces mounting pressure for greater transparency regarding the alleged use of toxic weapons.
Notably, the chemical chloropicrin, as identified by the US National Institutes of Health, serves dual purposes as a warfare agent and a pesticide. Inhalation of chloropicrin poses significant health risks, underscoring the gravity of its alleged use in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
