In a statement, the US State Department accused Moscow of violating the Chemical Weapons Convention during its operations in Ukraine.
The United States accuses Russia of using a chemical agent, chloropicrin, against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), according to a State Department statement Wednesday. .
In addition, Russia is using riot control agents as a “method of war in Ukraine, also in violation of the convention”, the text adds.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), chloropicrin is a chemical that has been used as a warfare agent and pesticide and, if inhaled, poses a health risk.
New sanctions
“The use of these chemicals is not an isolated incident and is likely motivated by the desire of Russian forces to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and make tactical advances on the battlefield,” the Department of Defense wrote. ‘State.
At the same time, Washington announced on Wednesday a new wave of sanctions targeting Russian or foreign companies or individuals accused of participating in the Russian war effort in the invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to Russian defense companies, as well as Chinese entities, these sanctions also concern several research units and companies involved in Russian chemical and biological weapons programs.
“Russia’s continued disregard for its obligations under the CIAC is consistent with the operations to poison Alexei Navalny and Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok-type nerve agents,” the department continues. of state.
Alexeï Navalny, former opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died on February 16, was the victim of serious poisoning which he attributed to the Kremlin. Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal were poisoned in England in 2018.
Russia has said it no longer possesses a military chemical arsenal, but the country faces pressure for more transparency over the use of toxic weapons it is accused of.