OPCW doubts US accusations of Russia's use of chemical weapons in Ukraine

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has spoken out about US allegations that Russia may have used chemical weapons in Ukraine. In its official statement of 7 May, the OPCW said that the information provided by both sides, including the data available to the OPCW Secretariat, was not sufficiently substantiated.

The organisation, whose main task is to monitor compliance with the ban on the use of chemical weapons, said that both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of using them.

However, according to the OPCW, "the information provided to the Organisation so far by both sides, together with the data available to the Secretariat, is not sufficiently substantiated".

"Nevertheless, the situation remains volatile and extremely worrying with regard to the possible new use of toxic chemicals as weapons," the statement said.

"In order to undertake any activities related to allegations of the use of toxic chemicals as weapons, the OPCW Secretariat would need to formally receive a request for such activities from States Parties. To date, the Secretariat has not received any such request for action," the organisation says.

The OPCW plans to "continue to monitor the situation" and adds that it is in contact with "interested States Parties":

"We invite those who may have corroborated information to share it with the Secretariat. In the meantime, the OPCW will continue to provide support to Ukraine, upon request, in the area of assistance and protection against chemical weapons in accordance with Article X of the Convention."

The United States accused Russia of using chemical weapons during the war with Ukraine on 1 May. This was stated in a statement by the US State Department on the introduction of new sanctions against Russia.

It claimed that the Russian military had used the chemical warfare agent chlorpicrin against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is included in the OPCW blacklist, is not a nerve agent, but has an irritating and, in high concentrations, suffocating effect.

It is also noted that Russian troops may use other substances similar to those used by the police to disperse protests.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have repeatedly stated that Russian troops use chemicals on the battlefield. However, there was no mention of their use causing death or serious consequences.

Background. The Ukrainian Armed Forces Support Force reported that in April, they recorded 444 cases of the use of ammunition containing hazardous chemicals by the Russian occupiers, which is 71 more than in the previous month.