THE HAGUE, July 8 (Reuters) – Ukraine has formally requested the global chemical weapons watchdog to investigate Russia’s alleged use of banned toxic munitions against Ukrainian forces, according to a submission made Tuesday to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
In a statement to the OPCW’s Executive Council, agency chief Fernando Arias said his office would increase monitoring along the Russia-Ukraine front lines due to repeated allegations of chemical weapons use. He urged Ukraine to discuss its proposal with member states, whose majority support may be required to launch an investigation.
The OPCW previously established a similar investigative team in 2018 to probe chemical weapons use in Syria, which found both Syrian government forces and Islamic State militants had deployed banned agents.
The U.S. first accused Russia in May 2023 of using chloropicrin, a toxic compound initially employed by Germany in World War I. However, the OPCW stated last year that initial accusations from both sides remained “insufficiently substantiated.”
Ukraine’s request, shared with Reuters, seeks an “independent and impartial mechanism” to investigate alleged chemical attacks, identify perpetrators, and gather evidence. The appeal was submitted as the OPCW’s 41-member Executive Council began four days of closed-door meetings.
Dutch intelligence reports link at least three Ukrainian deaths to chemical weapons use, with over 2,500 battlefield injuries showing related symptoms. Meanwhile, Britain recently sanctioned two Russian individuals and one entity under its chemical weapons sanctions regime, further pressuring Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Both Russia and Ukraine deny using chemical weapons in the conflict, which escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.