Russian forces increasingly use forbidden chemical weapons in Ukraine

Ukraine's Defense Forces have reported 626 instances of Russian forces deploying munitions containing toxic substances, with 51 of these cases occurring in January 2024 alone. What is even more concerning is the upward trend in such incidents, with up to 10 cases of chemical weapon usage being documented daily, according to Kateryna Tyschenko's report in Ukrainska Pravda. This flagrant violation of the international chemical weapons treaty by the Russian armed forces in Ukraine is a matter of grave concern.
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Russian RG-VO gas grenade recuperated by the Ukrainians (Picture source: Ukraine Army HQ)

The Ukrainian General Staff has provided insight into the methods employed by Russian forces. They frequently utilize grenades such as K-51s and Remote Hand Grenades (RGDs), which are dropped from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Additionally, they resort to improvised explosive devices that incorporate irritants. Furthermore, artillery shelling involving hazardous chemicals is not uncommon.

The K-51 is filled with variable weights of an irritant agent, which is commonly stated to be the Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) designated CS (2-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile). The K-51 uses the K-510 fuze, which is based on the UZRG-M (УЗРГ-М) series of grenade fuzes, however, the K-510 fuze is shorter and has an internal thread. The K-51 burns for 16 seconds producing a thick CS smoke.

Of particular note is the detection of the RG-VO, a novel type of special gas grenade containing the chemical substance CS, on December 14, 2023.

The use of CS gas, a riot control agent, in a military context is a blatant violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international treaty Russia is party to. This substance, designed to cause severe irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system, incapacitates its targets swiftly. When deployed on the battlefield, it disrupts enemy formations and causes chaos, but at the cost of crossing ethical boundaries and international legal norms.

In response to this alarming situation, a total of 36 cases involving the use of dangerous chemicals have been meticulously documented and subsequently referred for investigation. These investigations are being conducted within the framework of criminal proceedings by radiation, chemical, and biological intelligence teams from military units operating under the Support Forces Command, in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine.

Of particular note is the detection of the RG-VO, a novel type of special gas grenade containing the chemical substance CS, on December 14, 2023 (Picture source: Ukraine Army HQ)

Defense News January 2024