Russian forces continue to carry out systematic chemical attacks against Ukrainian troops, raising serious concerns on the front line. According to The Telegraph, Ukrainian defenders in various parts of the front line have reported constant drone attacks that drop poison gas and other chemicals 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 their positions are attacked almost every day with grenades containing gas. This does not lead to fatal consequences, but creates panic among the fighters and forces them to abandon their positions, giving the enemy an advantage.
Testimonies from other Ukrainian soldiers confirm regular chemical attacks. In particular, they note that gas masks saved the lives of many soldiers, although they now have to carry them with them at all times. Experts confirm the use of various chemicals, including tear gas and other poisonous compounds.
Incidents of this kind are becoming increasingly severe, with even deadly substances such as hydrogen cyanide, which was used during World War I, being used against Russian troops. These attacks, which are prohibited by international agreements, pose serious threats to the lives and health of Ukrainian military personnel, as well as the civilian population in the temporarily occupied territories.
The Ukrainian military has officially reported 626 cases of chemical attacks by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion. However, Rebekah Macorowski believes that this figure is significantly underestimated.
“Unfortunately, in the current situation, the causes of the deaths of many Ukrainian soldiers are not being properly investigated. There are simply too many of them,” she says.
Chemical attacks have become routine and Ukrainian troops are now being trained 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, presumably filled with CS, directly on their positions. When 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 exposure to tear gas instead of fleeing their fighting positions. After the first few minutes of exposure, the effect of the gas weakens,” the publication writes.
However, the Ukrainian military faces serious problems in obtaining and using protective equipment. Not all soldiers are issued gas masks, which makes them vulnerable to chemical attacks. Many of the gas masks available are outdated, having been produced in Soviet times, and their effectiveness against modern chemical agents is limited.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops have significantly increased the use of toxic chemical munitions 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 deliberately using chemical weapons for several reasons, including to intimidate and demoralize Ukrainian forces, as well as to undermine international law. In recent months, the occupiers have even begun using RG-VO grenades with chloroacetophenone, a type of tear gas, to suppress mass unrest.
