The US State Department has accused Russia of deploying a chemical weapon, chloropicrin, against Ukrainian forces, in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, in an effort to gain tactical advantage on the battlefield.
According to the State Department, the use of chloropicrin, a toxic agent originally designed as a poison gas in World War I, was aimed at dislodging Ukrainian forces from fortified positions. The action is deemed consistent with Russia’s previous use of chemical weapons, including the poisoning of dissidents like Aleksey Navalny and the Skripal family.
While Russia has denied involvement in these poisonings, the US Treasury Department has imposed sweeping sanctions targeting nearly 300 entities across Russia, China, and other countries allegedly supporting President Vladimir Putin’s military actions in Ukraine. These sanctions aim to cripple Russia’s military and industrial capabilities, particularly focusing on companies aiding Moscow’s procurement of weapons for the ongoing conflict.
The US National Institutes of Health highlight the health risks associated with inhaling chloropicrin, further underlining the severity of its alleged use by Russian forces.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized that these actions would disrupt Russia’s war efforts by targeting its military industrial base and evasion networks facilitating weapon supplies.
These developments follow President Joe Biden’s recent approval of a bill providing additional funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression. Yellen stated that these combined efforts aim to bolster Ukraine’s resistance while impeding Russia’s military capacity.
In addition to the sanctions, the State Department has blacklisted individuals and companies involved in Russia’s energy, mining, and metals sectors, as well as those connected to the death of Navalny. While US intelligence officials suspect Putin’s involvement in Navalny’s death, they found no conclusive evidence linking him directly to the timing of Navalny’s demise.
The sanctions encompass entities from various countries, including China, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, which have been accused of aiding Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
The Treasury Department’s statement underscores the international ramifications of supporting Russia’s actions in Ukraine, highlighting the significant threat to global security posed by such assistance.