Russia denies US accusation it breached chemical weapons ban in Ukraine

The US has accused Russia of violating the global ban on chemical weapons by using the choking agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian troops and deploying riot control agents “as a method of warfare” in Ukraine.

The State Department said in a statement issued late Wednesday that Russia has used the chemical weapon chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It also said that 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 accusation, however, was denied by Russia on Thursday. Reacting to charges, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow remained bound by its obligations under the treaty that bans chemical weapons.

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Peskov said that such accusations are unfounded and are not supported by anything as always. Russia has been and remains committed to its obligations under international law in this area, he said.

Chloropicrin is a banned choking agent by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), headquartered in The Hague. The OPCW was established to enforce and oversee compliance with the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Notably, German forces deployed this gas against Allied troops during World War I, marking one of the earliest instances of chemical weapon use in warfare.

In response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the US on Wednesday imposed new sanctions against Moscow on hundreds of firms, countries and people tied to Russia’s weapons development program.

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The Treasury and State departments have accused over a dozen Chinese firms of aiding Russia in circumventing sanctions and individuals associated with the death of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny.

The sanctions imposed by these departments target various aspects of Russia’s military-industrial complex, including its chemical weapons programs. Additionally, they focus on entities in third countries that facilitate Russia’s acquisition of weapons components. These actions come as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year.

The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nearly 200 entities, while the State Department designated over 80 individuals and entities. Specifically, the US imposed sanctions on 20 companies based in China and Hong Kong.

This move follows repeated warnings from Washington regarding China’s assistance to Russia’s military, notably highlighted during recent visits to China by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Firms in several countries, including China, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates are alleged to have assisted Russia in acquiring technology and equipment from abroad. These penalties are intended to restrict their access to the US financial system and prohibit American citizens from engaging in transactions with them.