There is a lack of evidence for claims about the use of chemical weapons in the war in Ukraine / Article

The OPCW also said it has yet to receive a formal request to investigate any allegations. Last week, the US accused Russia of using a toxic substance, chlorpicrin, against Ukrainian troops.

Chloropicrin is a poisonous substance that irritates the mucous membrane. It is a colorless liquid with a very pungent odor. The vapors of this substance act on the skin and mucous membranes, and in high concentrations cause uncontrollable spasms of the diaphragm muscles. It was widely used during World War I as a form of tear gas.

The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has banned chloropicrin.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists it as a “lung-damaging substance” that can cause severe irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory system.

“Both the Russian Federation and Ukraine have accused each other of using this substance and reported it to the responsible organization,” the OPCW said in a statement. “Until now, the information provided to the Organization by both parties, as well as the information at the disposal of the secretariat, is not sufficiently substantiated.”

At the same time, the OPCW described the situation related to the possible repeated use of toxic chemicals in the war in Ukraine as unstable and extremely worrying.

Last week, the US State Department accused Russia of using this chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

“In addition to the chemical chloropicrin, Russia also used riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention,” the department’s fact sheet said.

The Kremlin responded immediately to allegations of the use of this chemical in the war in Ukraine and denied its use. Kremlin press representative Dmitry Peskov stated that these claims are completely unfounded.

Russia has said it no longer has a military chemical arsenal, but the country is facing pressure to be more transparent about its alleged use of toxic weapons.

Moscow has signed and ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans the production and use of chemical weapons.

“Russia has been and remains determined to fulfill its obligations under international law,” Peskov said last week.

In a statement, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons recalled that a member of the organization should be formally required to investigate any allegation of chemical weapons use.

“To date, the Secretariat has not yet received any such request for action,” the OPCW said. “We will continue to monitor the situation and maintain a readiness to act.”