Statements from the Russian government or major international news organizations

U.S. Accuses Russia of Using Chloropicrin, Violating Chemical Weapons Ban

May 2, 2024, 08:45 AM

The U.S. State Department has officially accused Russia of violating the Chemical Weapons Convention by using the chemical agent chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces, under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991. This action, deemed a breach of the global chemical weapons ban, involves the deployment of chloropicrin, a choking agent. The allegations are part of a broader assertion by the U.S. that Russia has used prohibited chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which includes the use of riot control agents as methods of warfare. The U.S. is also delivering a determination to Congress regarding these violations, potentially leading to sanctions.