Ukraine has made serious allegations against Russia, accusing them of carrying out illegal chemical gas attacks on Ukrainian soldiers. According to reports from Ukrainian troops interviewed by the UK Daily Telegraph, Russia has been using small drones to drop tear gas and other chemicals on them.

The use of such substances, specifically CS gas, is prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention, especially during wartime. Moscow was specifically accused of using chemical weapons in a drone attack on the port of Mariupol during the early stages of its invasion in February 2022.

Slava, a senior lieutenant stationed near Lyman in Donetsk oblast, revealed that Ukrainian units in his area have been facing almost daily gas attacks. The seriousness of the situation was highlighted by Maciorowski, who mentioned that soldiers from the 53rd Mechanised Brigade had to retrieve a gas grenade while under fire because initially, no one believed they were being targeted with chemical weapons.

Ihor, a commander of a Ukrainian reconnaissance team near the frontline city of Chasiv Yar, also shared his experience with the Telegraph, stating that nearly every position in their area was being targeted with one or two gas grenades daily. He emphasized that the use of gas was the only way for the attackers to successfully harm them.

These reports shed light on the alarming tactics being employed in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, raising concerns about the violation of international agreements and the safety of Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines. The use of chemical weapons in any form is a serious breach of humanitarian norms and must be addressed with urgency.