Copyright © 2024 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

ISW: Russia recycles disproven bio and chem weapons allegations against Kyiv to undermine Western support

Russian officials are again claiming, without evidence, that Ukraine is using a “wide range of toxic chemicals” against Russian troops, including banned substances, as the Kremlin amplifies disinformation aimed at undermining Western resolve, ISW says.
chemical attacks Russia
A Russian grenade containing a chemical agent. Photo: General Staff
ISW: Russia recycles disproven bio and chem weapons allegations against Kyiv to undermine Western support

The Kremlin continues to lean on long-debunked narratives as part of its wider information operations aimed at discrediting and undermining Western support for Ukraine, the US-based think tank Institute for the Study of War says.

In a recent interview published on March 25, Russian Ambassador to the Hague Vladimir Tarabin restated the Kremlin’s discredited assertion that Ukraine is manufacturing biological weapons in biolabs funded by the US and NATO.

Tarabin further alleged that Ukrainian forces are regularly deploying various toxic chemicals, including substances prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), against Russian troops along the frontline, although he did not specify the exact locations.

The continued use of the debunked biolabs narrative by Tarabin raises doubts about the credibility of his other claims. Additionally, an unnamed Russian company command alleged that Ukrainian forces are employing phosphorus ammunition shells in undisclosed locations within the Zaporizhzhia direction, although such weaponry, while not banned in conventional warfare by the CWC, is prohibited for use against civilians.

Meanwhile, Russian forces have reportedly deployed white phosphorus in urban areas of Ukraine, posing a risk of harm to civilians on multiple occasions.

Kremlin officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have persistently accused the West of funding biolabs in Ukraine, a claim that has been refuted by Western publications, officials, and international organizations.

The Russian claims lack credibility compared to reports of Russian forces employing chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS) gas or chloropicrin (PS), both prohibited in warfare under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which Russia ratified in 1997.

Several Russian and Ukrainian sources have provided evidence of the use of such banned chemical agents against Ukrainian positions on the battlefield,” ISW says.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

Please leave your suggestions or corrections here



    Euromaidan Press

    We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!