Dutch intelligence has reportedly found evidence that Russia is increasingly using banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, including choking agents dropped from drones to force soldiers out of trenches. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans told Reuters this marks a troubling escalation, and called for tougher sanctions on Moscow.
Brekelmans warned that Russia’s use of chemical weapons is becoming more normalized and widespread—a trend observed over several years. The findings also reveal the previously unreported use of chloropicrin, a banned agent first used in World War I, raising concerns about the growing acceptance of chemical warfare.
These findings add to a broader timeline of events that have shaped the ongoing conflict. In April 2014, Russia-backed separatists seized control of several Ukrainian towns, shortly after Russia annexed Crimea in the months of February-March 2014. Then, in early 2022, Russia amassed troops along the Ukrainian border, leading to the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
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