2025-07-04 13:00
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2025-07-04 13:00
Military interviews of the Netherlands and Germany announced that Russia is using chemical weapons against Ukraine and that it is “widespread” – said the Dutch defense minister Ruben Brekelmans on Friday.
“We can confirm that Russia intensifies the use of chemical weapons,” said Brekelmans Reuters. In his opinion, this is proof that the use of chemical weapons “by the Russians is becoming more and more normalized, unified and common.”
Chloropicrine is the center used by Russia. The German intelligence, which studied Russia, emphasized in a Friday statement that the substance may be “fatal in a closed space and at a strong concentration.”
The head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency (MIVD) Peter Reesink stated that The information comes from “own independent intelligence reports (…) and own investigations”. The claims of the Dutch intelligence were confirmed by the German intelligence BND. In the statement he reported that The use of chloropicrine “is a serious violation of the convention on the prohibition of chemical weapons.”
According to the report of both services, chemical weapons are used, among others To force Ukrainian soldiers to leave his position, thanks to which they become an easy target for election shooters.
Last spring, the US accused Russia of the use of chloropicrine. Ukraine claims that Russia has repeatedly used chemical weapons on the front.
Russia denied and accused Ukraine of the use of chloropicrine: on Wednesday, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Federal Security Service discovered the Ukrainian composition of explosives, containing the same substance in the east of the country. Ukraine consistently denies such accusations.
The organization of chemical weapons (OPCW) has stated last year that earlier mutual accusations of both countries were not “enough justified”. She did not initiate a full investigation – Member States would have to be done.
Brekelmans said that at least three deaths in Ukraine were associated with the use of chemical weapons, and over 2.5 thousand. wounded reported symptoms related to chemical weapons.
The increased use of chemical weapons by Russia is a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to other countries – added Brekelmans. “We need to increase pressure even more. This means considering more sanctions, and specifically to prevent their (Russia) participation in international organs, such as the OPCW Executive Council,” he said.
Rotational two -year places in the OPCW Council will be the subject of negotiations in the coming months – the agency said. Russia is a member of the OPCW and, like the United States, destroyed its declared supplies of chemical weapons.
Dutch military and intelligence agencies claim that they have discovered specific evidence of increased production of Russian chemical weapons. This includes increased research opportunities and recruitment of scientists to develop chemical weapons – said Reesink. He added that Russian officials gave the soldiers instructions on the use of poisonous combat means.
“This is not just a temporary dug out on the front line; this is a large -scale element of the program. (…) If we do not explain and publicize Russia's actions, it is highly likely that these trends will persist” – said the head of the intelligence. In his opinion, the use of chemical weapons by Russia can be called “an almost permanent element of the operational procedure.”
Reesink said that the interview had “used chloropicrine with improvised ammunition, such as filled bulbs and empty bottles hung on a drone,” he said.
Chloropicrine is mentioned as a forbidden agent suffocating by OPCW. It can cause serious irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. In the case of swallowing, it can cause mouth and stomach burns, nausea and vomiting, as well as breathing difficulties or shortness of breath.
The information is to be officially presented next week during the meeting of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Hague. (PAP)
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