Putin: “Russia won’t back down” in Ukraine
The US recently said it would suspend weapon delivery to Ukraine as the Pentagon has reviewed its ammunition stockpile.
The Hague, July 4 (Reuters) – Dutch and German intelligence agency are gathering evidence of Russian Russia’s use of chemical weapons banned in Ukraine.
Dutch Defense Minister Reuben Brekelmans called for stricter sanctions on Moscow.
“The main conclusion is that we can confirm that Russia is increasing its use of chemical weapons,” he told Reuters.
“This intensification is part of a trend we have been observing for years, and this intensification is due to the more normalized, standardized and widespread use of Russian chemical weapons in this war.”
German BND Foreign Intelligence Agency confirmed the findings in a statement that it had obtained evidence along with its Dutch counterparts. Reuters first reported the information.
Peter Leesink, head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency (MIVD), said the conclusion “follows our own independent intelligence, so we observed it based on our own research.”
Reuters were unable to independently verify the use of banned chemicals on both sides of the Ukrainian War.
The US initially accused Russia of using chloropicrine, which Germany first used in May last year, which is more toxic than riot control agents.
Ukraine claims thousands of cases of Russian chemical weapons use.
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment on this article. Russia has refused to use illegal ammunition and accused Ukraine of doing so.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday that she discovered Ukrainian caches of explosive devices in the eastern part of the country, including chloropicrine.
Ukraine has consistently denied such accusations.
The Hague disarmament agency with 193 member states, the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said last year the first charges that both countries lay “have not been adequately demonstrated.”
They are not asked to conduct a full investigation. This must be initiated by member states.
At least three Ukrainians have been linked to the use of chemical weapons, but more than 2,500 people injured on the battlefield have reported chemical weapons-related symptoms to Ukrainian health authorities, according to Brekelmans.
The increased use of chemical weapons by Russia poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to other countries, Brekelman added.
“We have to raise the pressure even more, which means we will consider more sanctions and not allow them (Russia) to participate in international organizations like the OPCW’s Executive Council,” he said.
Reesink spoke of “thousands of instances” of chemical weapons use, and also cited figures from 9,000 Ukrainians.
OPCW Council’s two-year seat rotation will increase for negotiations in the coming months.
The findings of the information were presented in a letter to the Dutch Parliament on Friday.
Large programme
Russia is a member of the OPCW and, like the US, destroyed declared stockpiles of chemical weapons.
The increase in sanctions could occur in conjunction with the European Commission, which proposes to list 15 additional new entities and individuals in its sanctions framework, including alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
The Dutch military and general intelligence agency says it is working with foreign partners to uncover concrete evidence of strengthening Russian chemical weapons production.
This includes recruiting scientists for increased research capabilities and the development of chemical weapons, Reesink said. He added that Russian officials gave soldiers instructions on using toxic war agents.
“This isn’t just about ad hoc trolling at the forefront. It’s really part of a massive program, because, of course, these trends are likely to continue unless they clarify and make public what Russia is doing,” Reesink said.
He called the use of chemical weapons by the Russian army “a nearly standing operational procedure.”
“We specifically linked the use of chloropicrin to use chloropicrin with improvised ammunition, such as light bulbs and empty bottles suspended from drones. When it comes to tear gas, we see that we misuse and convert existing ammunition to act as carriers of gas,” he said.
Chloropicrine is listed as a suffocating agent prohibited by the OPCW, created to implement and monitor compliance with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
It can cause severe irritation to the skin, eyes and respiratory systems. If consumed, it can cause burns to the mouth and stomach, nausea and vomiting, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath.
(Additional report by Andreas Linke of Berlin, edited by Mike Collet White and William McLean)
