What's happened
As of early July 2025, Dutch and German intelligence confirm Russia's widespread use of banned chemical weapons, including chloropicrin and tear gas, in Ukraine. The chemicals are deployed via drones to force Ukrainian soldiers from cover, violating the Chemical Weapons Convention. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans calls for tougher sanctions and continued military support for Ukraine amid these findings.
What's behind the headline?
Systematic Use of Chemical Weapons
The intelligence from Dutch and German agencies reveals that Russia's use of chemical weapons in Ukraine is not sporadic but has become a standardized tactic. The deployment of chloropicrin—a chemical agent first used in World War I—and riot control agents like CS gas via drones to flush out Ukrainian soldiers represents a deliberate strategy to gain battlefield advantage.
Implications for International Norms
This normalization of chemical weapons use threatens to erode long-standing international norms established by the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Geneva Protocol. The risk extends beyond Ukraine, as Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans warns, potentially destabilizing European and global security.
Political and Military Consequences
Calls for increased sanctions and isolation of Russia, including exclusion from bodies like the OPCW Executive Council, will intensify. The evidence of a "large-scale programme" for chemical weapons production and deployment suggests Moscow is doubling down despite international condemnation.
Forecast and Impact
The continuation and possible escalation of chemical weapons use will likely harden Western resolve to support Ukraine militarily and economically. It will also complicate diplomatic efforts for peace, as trust in Russia's adherence to international law diminishes further. For global audiences, this development underscores the ongoing risks of chemical warfare re-emerging in modern conflicts, emphasizing the need for vigilance and robust international enforcement mechanisms.
What the papers say
The Independent highlights the UK government's sanctions targeting Russian officials and companies linked to chemical weapons, emphasizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's commitment to "tightening the screws" on Moscow. The Independent also details the intelligence findings, quoting Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans stating, "Russia's use of chemical weapons in this war is becoming more normalized, standardized, and widespread."
The Japan Times and AP News report on the joint Dutch-German intelligence findings, noting the use of chloropicrin and CS gas to force Ukrainian soldiers from trenches. AP News underscores the call for continued military support for Kyiv and the dangers of lowering the threshold for chemical weapons use.
The Moscow Times provides insight into the intelligence agencies' assessment that Russia's military leadership actively facilitates chemical weapons use, describing it as "systemic and large-scale." It also notes Russia's denials and counter-accusations against Ukraine.
Politico and the NY Post focus on the historical context of chemical weapons, referencing their prohibition under the Geneva Protocol and Chemical Weapons Convention. They cite the U.S. State Department's earlier accusations and the OPCW's limited investigations, highlighting the complexity of verifying such claims.
Together, these sources paint a comprehensive picture of escalating chemical weapons use by Russia in Ukraine, the international response, and the geopolitical ramifications.
How we got here
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, allegations of chemical weapons use have surfaced repeatedly. Russia is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, which bans such weapons. Western intelligence and Ukraine have accused Russia of thousands of chemical attacks, while Russia denies these claims and accuses Ukraine of similar violations.
Go deeper
- What evidence supports claims of Russia's chemical weapons use?
- How is the international community responding to these allegations?
- What are the risks of chemical weapons normalization in conflict zones?
Common question
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What are the latest developments in the Ukraine-Russia conflict?
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Has Russia Used Chemical Weapons in Ukraine?
Recent intelligence confirms that Russia has deployed chemical weapons in Ukraine, raising serious concerns worldwide. This has led to questions about what chemicals are involved, how the international community is responding, and what the future holds. Below, we explore the key facts and answers to the most common questions about Russia's alleged chemical attacks in Ukraine.
More on these topics
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Ruben P. Brekelmans is a Dutch politician, serving as a member of the House of Representatives since the 2021 general election on behalf of the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Chloropicrin, also known as PS and nitrochloroform, is a chemical compound currently used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial, fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, and nematicide. Its chemical structural formula is Cl₃CNO₂.
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The Netherlands, informally Holland, is a country primarily located in Western Europe and partly in the Caribbean, forming the largest constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central and Western Europe. Covering an area of 357,022 square kilometres, it lies between the Baltic and North seas to the north, and the Alps to the south.
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The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is an intergovernmental organisation and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, which entered into force on 29 April 1997.