According to the BND, Russia has increased its use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The findings of several intelligence agencies are consistent with the observation that the war is being waged with ever greater brutality and intensity.
According to the Federal Intelligence Service and two Dutch intelligence agencies, Russia is increasing its use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The German government confirmed reports of the use of the lung-weapon chloropicrin. This is a violation of the agreement prohibiting the use of lung-weapon agents under all circumstances, said government spokesman Stefan Kornelius.
According to the report, Russia is using chloropicrin in the Ukraine war, in addition to tear gas and other chemical weapons. This can be lethal in high concentrations in enclosed spaces. It was also used in World War I under the name Green Cross-1."The use of tear gas and chloropicrin by Russian troops has now become standard practice and widespread," the German Foreign Intelligence Service, the Dutch Military Intelligence Service (MIVD), and the Dutch Intelligence Service (AIVD) jointly reported.
"This represents an even more serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the use of this chemical asphyxiant under all circumstances," the BND and Dutch intelligence agencies declared. Last year, Great Britain and the United States had already accused Russia of using the chemical chloropicrin against Ukrainian soldiers.
Russia invests heavily in its chemical weapons program
According to observations by the BND, MIVD, and AIVD, the Russian leadership and its radiological, chemical, and biological defense forces actively support and promote the prohibited use. It is highly likely that this continues to pose a threat. Furthermore, Russia is investing heavily in its chemical weapons program. Research in the field is being expanded, and new scientists are being recruited.
Following these reports, the Ukrainian Defense Minister stated that Russia had already used chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops over 9,000 times in its war of aggression. According to Ukraine, at least three deaths could be directly attributed to the effects of chemical weapons.
Warfare with ever increasing brutality
"Russia is increasingly using a wide range of chemical weapons," they said in a joint statement. Chloropicrin is now"a more powerful chemical agent." The intelligence agencies' findings are consistent with the observation that the war is being waged with ever-increasing brutality and intensity. In light of heavy Russian airstrikes last night, a decisive stance and continued military support for Ukraine are more important than ever, the spokesperson added.
Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans informed parliament in The Hague of the findings. He stated that Russia is using chemical weapons"systematically and on a large scale." This is a dangerous development,"completely unacceptable," and demonstrates once again "the brutality of the aggressor facing Ukraine." Brekelmans further stated that Russia is thus generally lowering the threshold for the use of chemical weapons in conflicts. This also poses a danger to"the rest of Europe and the world."
