 "What is Chloropicrin, the chemical agent Russia has allegedly used in the Ukraine war?")
The United States has accused Russia of deploying banned choking gas Chloropicrin to expel Ukrainian troops, coinciding with its most significant advancement in the Eastern European nation since its “military operation” in Ukraine. The US Department of State asserted that Russia utilised the riot control agent, also known as nitrochloroform, to dislodge Ukrainian soldiers “from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield.”
The US emphasised that the use of Chloropicrin is not an “isolated” incident, contending that Russia’s actions are in violation of the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), of which Russia is a signatory. Moscow has rebuffed the allegations , labelling them as baseless and denying the deployment of the chemical substance.
What is Chloropicrin?
Chloropicrin, primarily utilised as an insecticide, found a more sinister application as a weapon during World War I. This oily substance was among the various gases employed to injure and asphyxiate entrenched soldiers. According to the CDC, it appears: “Colourless to faintly yellow oily liquid.”
Functioning as a toxic irritant, Chloropicrin induces tearing and burning sensations in the eyes and skin, while also impacting the respiratory system. Inhalation of significant quantities may result in symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
Chloropicrin is listed as a banned choking agent by the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which was created to implement and monitor compliance with the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
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On the frontline, grenades containing CS and CN gases have reportedly been deployed, compelling troops entrenched in trenches to either brave enemy fire by fleeing or face the peril of suffocation, reported Sky News. According to the Ukrainian military, a minimum of 500 Ukrainian troops have received medical treatment due to exposure to the toxic substance, with one casualty succumbing to suffocation as a consequence of tear gas inhalation.
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More ShortsWhat are CS and CN gases?
CS and CN gases are both types of chemical compounds commonly used in riot control agents.
CS gas, also known as ortho-chlorobenzylidene-malononitrile, is a riot control agent that causes irritation to the eyes, nose, and respiratory system, leading to tearing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. It is typically deployed in the form of tear gas grenades or canisters.
CN gas, also known as chloroacetophenone, is another riot control agent that produces similar effects to CS gas, including irritation to the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract. It is also commonly used in riot control situations and can cause temporary incapacitation and disorientation.
Both CS and CN gases are considered less lethal alternatives to lethal force and are used by law enforcement and military personnel for crowd control purposes. However, exposure to high concentrations or prolonged exposure to these gases can pose health risks and lead to serious injury or death, especially in enclosed spaces or for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Has Russia been accused before as well?
The US statement said that Moscow’s utilisation of the gas “comes from the same playbook as its operations to poison” late opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020 and Sergei Skripal along with his daughter Yulia in 2018 using the Novichok nerve agent.
Accusations have been leveled against Russians for multiple instances of using white phosphorus bombs. These allegations include incidents during the Battle of Kyiv and against Kramatorsk in March 2022, as well as against dug-in defenders at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol in May 2022. Additionally, reports indicate the use of white phosphorus bombs in Marinka over the 2022 Christmas holiday.
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On 15 March in 2022, when incendiaries were used during the Battle of Mariupol, Serhiy Haidai, the Governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast, labelled the Russian soldiers war criminals and likened their actions to those of the Nazis.
Similar munitions were observed in Popasna two days prior. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Russian military of using phosphorus shells against civilians in an address to NATO leaders on 25 March, 2022. Although the use of phosphorus shells was not independently confirmed at the time, experts acknowledged the possibility.
Deputy Defence Minister of Ukraine Anna Malyar announced in April 2022 that the government was investigating reports of possible chemical weapons usage, including phosphorus bombs, during the blockade of Mariupol.
In mid-May, Ombudsman for Human Rights in Ukraine Lyudmila Denisova accused Russian forces of attacking the Mariupol metallurgical plant Azovstal with incendiary and phosphorus bombs. Western experts disagreed on whether the attack involved phosphorus or thermite magnesium ammunition.
The Russians reportedly used 9M22S incendiary shells developed by NPO Splav, containing thermite mixture, which outwardly resembles phosphorus munitions.
On 13 March last year, footage emerged showing thermite munitions raining down on a residential area during the Battle of Vuhledar. Overnight on 5-7 May 2023, videos surfaced depicting attacks with incendiary weapons by Russian forces during the Battle of Bakhmut.
What action has the US taken?
The US has imposed sanctions on three Russian state entities associated with Moscow’s chemical and biological weapons initiatives, which notably include a specialised military unit purportedly involved in “facilitating the use” of chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops.
In a separate move, the US Treasury Department has enforced sanctions on almost 200 targets, while the US State Department has designated over 80 entities in what constitutes one of the most extensive actions against Chinese companies to date as part of Washington’s sanctions directed at Russia.
These sanctions notably target 20 companies situated in China and Hong Kong, underscoring ongoing concerns from Washington regarding China’s backing of Russia’s military actions, a matter that has been emphasised during recent diplomatic engagements, including visits by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China.
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China’s alignment with Russia poses one of several challenges to the recent improvements observed in relations between the world’s largest economies.
“Treasury has consistently warned that companies will face significant consequences for providing material support for Russia’s war, and the U.S. is imposing them today on almost 300 targets,” Yellen said in a statement.
With inputs from agencies
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