In a press release published this Wednesday, May 1, the United States accuses Russia of having used a chemical weapon in its war against Ukraine.
Did Russia use chloropicrin against Ukrainian soldiers? In any case, this is what the United States thinks after publishing a press release this Wednesday, May 1, in which it accuses Moscow of violating the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (CIWC).
According to the National Library of Medicine, this chemical agent appears as a slightly oily, colorless to yellow liquid with a strong irritating odor. Non-combustible. Denser than water. Vapors are toxic if inhaled and irritate the eyes, nose and throat.
“The use of these chemicals is not an isolated incident and is likely motivated by the desire of Russian forces to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and make tactical advances on the battlefield,” indicates the State Department, taken up by BFMTV.
“Russia’s continued disregard for its obligations under the CIAC is consistent with the operations to poison Alexei Navalny and Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok-type nerve agents.”add the United States.
81 chemical attacks by Russia
Finally, our colleagues from Le Figaro point out that this is not the first time that Russia has used chemical weapons. Ukrainian soldiers have also reported, on several occasions, the use of a chemical agent by Moscow.
In August 2023, on Telegram, General Oleksandr Tarnavsky, commander of the Tavria military sector, indicated that Russia had “carried out two barrages (a massed fire technique) using multiple rocket launchers with munitions containing a chemical substance.”
The Ukrainian general staff counted 81 chemical attacks by the Russian army last December.
