EditUkraine calls for OPCW investigation into alleged Russian chemical weapons use
If confirmed, Russia’s use of such weapons would escalate the humanitarian and legal consequences of the war in Ukraine
Ukraine has formally requested the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), based in The Hague, to launch an investigation into Russia’s alleged use of banned chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.
The request, submitted on Tuesday to the OPCW’s Executive Council, follows reports from Dutch and German intelligence agencies highlighting evidence of Russia’s widespread use of prohibited toxic munitions along the frontline.
The use of chemical weapons as a war crime
The use of chemical weapons is a serious violation of international law, primarily prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), a treaty enforced by the OPCW since 1997. The CWC bans the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons, defining them as toxic chemicals or their precursors that can cause death, injury, or harm through their chemical action.
Deploying such weapons constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, specifically under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which classifies the use of prohibited weapons in armed conflicts as a prosecutable offense.
Additionally, chemical weapons use violates customary international law, which applies to both state and non-state actors, making perpetrators liable for prosecution at international tribunals or national courts.
Dutch and German intelligence findings
On Friday, the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency (MIVD) and Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) reported evidence of Russia’s systematic use of illegal chemical weapons in Ukraine.
The MIVD specifically noted that at least three Ukrainian deaths have been directly linked to chemical weapons exposure. The agencies pointed to the use of chloropicrin, a highly toxic chemical first deployed by Germany in World War I, which causes severe irritation to the lungs, eyes, and skin, and can be fatal in high concentrations.
The United States first accused Russia of using chloropicrin in May 2024, marking it as a violation of the CWC. Both Russia and Ukraine have denied deploying chemical weapons, and the OPCW previously labeled mutual accusations as “insufficiently substantiated.”
Furthermore, Ukrainian health authorities have documented over 2,500 battlefield injuries exhibiting symptoms consistent with chemical exposure, such as respiratory distress, skin burns, and neurological effects.
These findings suggest a pattern of deliberate and widespread violations, with the intelligence reports indicating that Russian forces have integrated chemical agents into their military tactics along the Russia-Ukraine conflict line.
OPCW response and precedent
OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias responded to Ukraine’s request by announcing that his office would intensify monitoring of activities along the conflict line due to the reported frequent use of dangerous chemical agents. He invited Ukraine to engage with the OPCW’s 193 member states to build support for the investigation, which may require majority approval from the 41-country Executive Council.
The OPCW has precedent for such actions: in 2018, it established the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) to probe chemical weapons use in Syria. The IIT confirmed that Syrian government forces and Islamic State militants had deployed banned agents, such as chlorine and sulfur mustard, during the Syrian civil war, leading to accountability measures and sanctions.
Ukraine’s proposal
Ukraine’s request, as reported by Reuters, calls for the OPCW to establish an “independent and impartial mechanism” to investigate alleged chemical weapons use in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which escalated following Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
The mechanism would focus on collecting evidence, identifying perpetrators, organisers, and sponsors of these acts, and ensuring accountability. The proposal was submitted at the start of a four-day closed-door meeting of the OPCW’s Executive Council, though the organization has not yet commented publicly on the request.
On Monday, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on two Russian individuals and one entity under its chemical weapons sanctions regime, signaling growing international concern over Russia’s actions.
With Reuters, edited by g.g.
Caption: File photo. Logo of the OPCW during an extraordinary session of member states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) initiated by the UK in The Hague, The Netherlands, 26 June 2018. EPA/JERRY LAMPEN
Updated: July 9, 2025 - 05:18
