Russian forces continue systematic chemical attacks against the Ukrainian military, causing serious concern on the front lines. According to the journalists of The Telegraph, Ukrainian defenders in various areas of the front testify to constant attacks by drones, which drop poisonous gases and other chemical substances on their positions. The use of these agents, such as CS or chlorobenzalmalononitrile, is prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
According to the commander of the Ukrainian reconnaissance group, the situation is becoming critical, as almost every day their positions are attacked with grenades containing gas. This does not lead to fatal consequences, but it creates panic among the fighters and forces them to leave their positions, giving the enemy an advantage.
Testimonies of other Ukrainian soldiers confirm regular chemical attacks. In particular, they note that gas masks have saved the lives of many soldiers, although now they have to carry them with them all the time. Experts confirm the use of various chemicals, including tear gas and other poisonous compounds.
Incidents of this kind are becoming more and more acute, with Russian troops even using such deadly substances as hydrogen cyanide, which was used during the First World War. These attacks, which are prohibited by international agreements, pose a serious threat to the life and health of the Ukrainian military, as well as the civilian population in the temporarily occupied territories.
The Ukrainian military has officially reported 626 incidents of chemical attacks by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion. However, Rebeka Machorowski believes that this figure is significantly underestimated.
"Unfortunately, in the current situation, the causes of the deaths of many Ukrainian soldiers are not properly investigated. There are simply too many of them," she says.
Chemical attacks have become a routine practice, and now the Ukrainian military undergoes special training for such situations. Training materials obtained by The Telegraph describe an attack on Ukrainian positions near Bakhmut late last year.
“Russian drones dropped three chemical grenades, believed to be filled with CS, directly on their positions. As the soldiers tried to escape, they were attacked with shells and drones dropping conventional grenades. The training manual advises soldiers to stay put and endure the first few minutes of being exposed to tear gas instead of fleeing their fighting positions. After the first few minutes of exposure, the effect of the gas weakens," the newspaper writes.
However, the Ukrainian military faces serious problems in obtaining and using protective equipment. Not all fighters are given gas masks, which makes them vulnerable to chemical attacks. Many existing gas masks are outdated, because they were produced back in Soviet times, and their effectiveness against modern chemicals is limited.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Russian troops have significantly increased the use of ammunition with poisonous chemicals at the front. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 626 such cases have been recorded, with 51 of them occurring in January 2024.
ISW analysts believe that Russia is purposefully using chemical weapons for several reasons, including intimidating and demoralizing Ukrainian forces, as well as undermining international law. In recent months, the occupiers have even started using RG-VO grenades with chloroacetophenone, which is a type of tear gas, to quell mass unrest.
