The Russian military deployed chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces 434 times in December 2023 alone, according to new data released by the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.
Ukrainian military officials report that Russia's use of dangerous chemical substances has become systematic throughout 2023, with over 5,300 documented cases since February. Specialized Ukrainian reconnaissance units have been monitoring and recording these chemical attacks.
The Russian forces are using specialized munitions containing chemical agents like K-51 and RG-VO, which are classified as crowd control substances and prohibited for use in warfare under international conventions. Military observers have also documented numerous cases involving unidentified hazardous chemical compounds.
"The enemy continues deploying munitions with dangerous chemicals against our Defense Forces, showing blatant disregard for international law," stated Ukraine's General Staff in an official release.
The military leadership emphasized that these actions directly violate the Chemical Weapons Convention, which explicitly bans the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons in combat.
This revelation comes shortly after a notable incident in Moscow, where Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the commander of Russia's chemical warfare forces, was killed by an explosive device hidden in an electric scooter. The blast occurred near his residence, approximately seven kilometers from the Kremlin.
The ongoing use of chemical agents adds another layer of complexity to the conflict, raising serious concerns about compliance with international warfare regulations and human rights conventions.