Russia's Use of Chloropicrin and Chemical Weapons in Ukraine

Ukrainian Soldier's Account of Chemical Attacks

• 💬 A Ukrainian soldier describes experiencing chloropicrin gas attacks on the front line, where the gas has a smell like paprika and mustard.
• 🏥 During one attack, a wounded soldier died while trying to put on a gas mask, with the gas exacerbating his injuries.
• 😷 Soldiers describe severe lung irritation, feeling like their lungs are collapsing, and experiencing symptoms for weeks after exposure.
• 🎯 The gas attacks are often deployed via drones, with a small explosion followed by a creeping smell and a tight feeling in the chest.

Nature and Effects of Chloropicrin

• ⚠️ Chloropicrin is described as an incapacitant agent that is far too lethal to be used as a riot control agent, and will absolutely kill if one stays in a confined space.
• 📈 Reports indicate that both the Dutch, Danish, and US governments have confirmed Russia's use of chloropicrin.
• 🚫 Unlike CS gas, which is a riot control agent banned for wartime use under the Chemical Weapons Convention, chloropicrin is classified as an incapacitant and a choking agent.
• 🤕 It is noted that chloropicrin can cause long-term lung damage and is not a chemical used for riot control purposes.

Russian Tactics and Ukrainian Defense

• 🎯 Russian tactics involve using chemical weapons to flush Ukrainian soldiers out of their defensive positions into the open, where they can be attacked by artillery or drones.
• 💥 This tactic is effective because soldiers caught in the open are far more vulnerable than those in fortified positions like blindages.
• 🛡️ While the interviewed soldier's unit was issued gas masks, it's noted that not all Ukrainian units have them, making them particularly vulnerable.
• 🆘 There is a call for Western countries to supply large numbers of gas masks and other CBRN equipment to Ukrainian troops.

Broader Chemical Warfare Context

• 📜 Chloropicrin was one of the first chemical weapons used effectively by the Germans during World War I.
• 🔍 There are credible reports, including intelligence intercepts, suggesting Russia may also be using luisite and phosgene in small quantities, with one agent causing rapid death and pinpoint pupils, a symptom of phosphate nerve agents.
• 📈 The use of these chemical weapons is described as a systematic campaign, ordered by the Russian military hierarchy, and is effective in driving Ukrainian soldiers out of their positions.