Ukrainian Embassy in Amman statement: Russia’s Use of Chemical Weapons in Ukraine Undermines Global Security
The global framework of non-proliferation and disarmament has long been a pillar of international security, explicitly banning the use of chemical weapons under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). However, this crucial system faces a new threat from Russia’s actions in Ukraine, posing significant risks to global stability.
Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has reportedly deployed chemical agents and riot control substances against Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces. This is a clear violation of the CWC, which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. Evidence suggests that Russian forces have turned to chemical agents as part of their military tactics, using them to stall Ukraine’s advances and destabilize Ukrainian positions, leaving Ukrainian forces vulnerable to other forms of attack.
These illegal tactics have severe consequences for the Ukrainian troops, not only physically but psychologically. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, from February 17, 2023, to September 16, 2024, there were 4,228 documented instances of Russian munitions containing harmful chemicals, including chloropicrin, used against Ukrainian forces. As a result, over 2,000 Ukrainian servicemembers have sought medical treatment for symptoms of chemical exposure, and tragically, three fatalities from acute poisoning by unknown substances have been recorded.
The Ukrainian authorities are actively compiling evidence of these CWC violations and reports them to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its member states. Ukrainian officials remain committed to ensuring that justice is served, asserting that those responsible for these war crimes will face international accountability. But how long must the world wait to see those responsible face justice? How many more lives must be torn apart before action is taken?
Russia’s use of chemical agents extends beyond Ukraine; in Syria, its alliance with the Syrian government has been marred by allegations of complicity in chemical attacks against civilians. In locations like Douma, Syrian civilians—many of them women and children—have suffered immensely, with symptoms of chemical exposure ranging from respiratory distress to severe neurological damage. Innocent lives have been left shattered, families torn apart, and communities devastated. These attacks underscore Russia’s disregard for the protections outlined in the Chemical Weapons Convention, leaving countless Syrians to face the horrifying impact of chemical warfare. What could be more heartbreaking than seeing innocent civilians suffer from weapons intended for battlefields? What justification could there be for inflicting such agony on families and children?
The international response to Russia’s actions has been strong but yet not enough. On May 1, 2024, the United States imposed new sanctions on Russia for its use of chemical agents, including chloropicrin, against Ukraine. On June 6, 2024, a coalition of countries, including Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s use of chemical agents against Ukrainian forces. Most recently, on October 8, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed restrictions on Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense troops, including their commander, in response to documented chemical weapon use in Ukraine.
Russia has consistently denied its involvement, often through state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. Yet, its record speaks otherwise: in 2018, OPCW confirmed that Russia used a “Novichok” nerve agent against its own citizens - Sergei and Yulia Skripal, who found shelter in the UK, and in 2020, Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian oposition leader who was killed recently, was similarly poisoned. Russian support for Syria’s government, which has used chemical weapons on civilians, adds further weight to these accusations.
Despite these condemnations, Russia has applied for a seat on the OPCW’s Executive Council for the 2025-2027 term that is absolutely cynical. For many, this bid is viewed as an attempt by Russia to shield itself from accountability within the very body tasked with preventing the use of chemical weapons. Can the international community really allow a country that flouts chemical weapons laws to influence the very organization tasked with enforcing them?
Ukraine firmly believes that any use of chemical weapons is a gross violation of international law. The memories of Syrians and Ukrainians harmed by these attacks weigh heavily on the world’s conscience, reminding us that every life lost or scarred by chemical warfare is an undeniable tragedy. Ukraine is calling on the global community to deny Russia’s seat on the OPCW Executive Council and to support investigations into Russia’s actions in Ukraine. How can we, in good conscience, allow Russia to hold power within the OPCW? To give them a place on the Executive Council would send a dangerous message—that those who violate the rules can also shape them. The international community must stand united, both in demanding accountability and in reaffirming that the Chemical Weapons Convention remains a shield for humanity and international order, not a tool for those who would continue ruining it. Many victims in Syria and Ukraine, murdered by Russia’s use of chemical weapons, call on us!
The global framework of non-proliferation and disarmament has long been a pillar of international security, explicitly banning the use of chemical weapons under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). However, this crucial system faces a new threat from Russia’s actions in Ukraine, posing significant risks to global stability.
Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has reportedly deployed chemical agents and riot control substances against Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces. This is a clear violation of the CWC, which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. Evidence suggests that Russian forces have turned to chemical agents as part of their military tactics, using them to stall Ukraine’s advances and destabilize Ukrainian positions, leaving Ukrainian forces vulnerable to other forms of attack.
These illegal tactics have severe consequences for the Ukrainian troops, not only physically but psychologically. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, from February 17, 2023, to September 16, 2024, there were 4,228 documented instances of Russian munitions containing harmful chemicals, including chloropicrin, used against Ukrainian forces. As a result, over 2,000 Ukrainian servicemembers have sought medical treatment for symptoms of chemical exposure, and tragically, three fatalities from acute poisoning by unknown substances have been recorded.
The Ukrainian authorities are actively compiling evidence of these CWC violations and reports them to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its member states. Ukrainian officials remain committed to ensuring that justice is served, asserting that those responsible for these war crimes will face international accountability. But how long must the world wait to see those responsible face justice? How many more lives must be torn apart before action is taken?
Russia’s use of chemical agents extends beyond Ukraine; in Syria, its alliance with the Syrian government has been marred by allegations of complicity in chemical attacks against civilians. In locations like Douma, Syrian civilians—many of them women and children—have suffered immensely, with symptoms of chemical exposure ranging from respiratory distress to severe neurological damage. Innocent lives have been left shattered, families torn apart, and communities devastated. These attacks underscore Russia’s disregard for the protections outlined in the Chemical Weapons Convention, leaving countless Syrians to face the horrifying impact of chemical warfare. What could be more heartbreaking than seeing innocent civilians suffer from weapons intended for battlefields? What justification could there be for inflicting such agony on families and children?
The international response to Russia’s actions has been strong but yet not enough. On May 1, 2024, the United States imposed new sanctions on Russia for its use of chemical agents, including chloropicrin, against Ukraine. On June 6, 2024, a coalition of countries, including Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s use of chemical agents against Ukrainian forces. Most recently, on October 8, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed restrictions on Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense troops, including their commander, in response to documented chemical weapon use in Ukraine.
Russia has consistently denied its involvement, often through state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. Yet, its record speaks otherwise: in 2018, OPCW confirmed that Russia used a “Novichok” nerve agent against its own citizens - Sergei and Yulia Skripal, who found shelter in the UK, and in 2020, Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian oposition leader who was killed recently, was similarly poisoned. Russian support for Syria’s government, which has used chemical weapons on civilians, adds further weight to these accusations.
Despite these condemnations, Russia has applied for a seat on the OPCW’s Executive Council for the 2025-2027 term that is absolutely cynical. For many, this bid is viewed as an attempt by Russia to shield itself from accountability within the very body tasked with preventing the use of chemical weapons. Can the international community really allow a country that flouts chemical weapons laws to influence the very organization tasked with enforcing them?
Ukraine firmly believes that any use of chemical weapons is a gross violation of international law. The memories of Syrians and Ukrainians harmed by these attacks weigh heavily on the world’s conscience, reminding us that every life lost or scarred by chemical warfare is an undeniable tragedy. Ukraine is calling on the global community to deny Russia’s seat on the OPCW Executive Council and to support investigations into Russia’s actions in Ukraine. How can we, in good conscience, allow Russia to hold power within the OPCW? To give them a place on the Executive Council would send a dangerous message—that those who violate the rules can also shape them. The international community must stand united, both in demanding accountability and in reaffirming that the Chemical Weapons Convention remains a shield for humanity and international order, not a tool for those who would continue ruining it. Many victims in Syria and Ukraine, murdered by Russia’s use of chemical weapons, call on us!
The global framework of non-proliferation and disarmament has long been a pillar of international security, explicitly banning the use of chemical weapons under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). However, this crucial system faces a new threat from Russia’s actions in Ukraine, posing significant risks to global stability.
Since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has reportedly deployed chemical agents and riot control substances against Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces. This is a clear violation of the CWC, which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. Evidence suggests that Russian forces have turned to chemical agents as part of their military tactics, using them to stall Ukraine’s advances and destabilize Ukrainian positions, leaving Ukrainian forces vulnerable to other forms of attack.
These illegal tactics have severe consequences for the Ukrainian troops, not only physically but psychologically. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, from February 17, 2023, to September 16, 2024, there were 4,228 documented instances of Russian munitions containing harmful chemicals, including chloropicrin, used against Ukrainian forces. As a result, over 2,000 Ukrainian servicemembers have sought medical treatment for symptoms of chemical exposure, and tragically, three fatalities from acute poisoning by unknown substances have been recorded.
The Ukrainian authorities are actively compiling evidence of these CWC violations and reports them to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its member states. Ukrainian officials remain committed to ensuring that justice is served, asserting that those responsible for these war crimes will face international accountability. But how long must the world wait to see those responsible face justice? How many more lives must be torn apart before action is taken?
Russia’s use of chemical agents extends beyond Ukraine; in Syria, its alliance with the Syrian government has been marred by allegations of complicity in chemical attacks against civilians. In locations like Douma, Syrian civilians—many of them women and children—have suffered immensely, with symptoms of chemical exposure ranging from respiratory distress to severe neurological damage. Innocent lives have been left shattered, families torn apart, and communities devastated. These attacks underscore Russia’s disregard for the protections outlined in the Chemical Weapons Convention, leaving countless Syrians to face the horrifying impact of chemical warfare. What could be more heartbreaking than seeing innocent civilians suffer from weapons intended for battlefields? What justification could there be for inflicting such agony on families and children?
The international response to Russia’s actions has been strong but yet not enough. On May 1, 2024, the United States imposed new sanctions on Russia for its use of chemical agents, including chloropicrin, against Ukraine. On June 6, 2024, a coalition of countries, including Canada, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s use of chemical agents against Ukrainian forces. Most recently, on October 8, 2024, the United Kingdom imposed restrictions on Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense troops, including their commander, in response to documented chemical weapon use in Ukraine.
Russia has consistently denied its involvement, often through state-sponsored disinformation campaigns. Yet, its record speaks otherwise: in 2018, OPCW confirmed that Russia used a “Novichok” nerve agent against its own citizens - Sergei and Yulia Skripal, who found shelter in the UK, and in 2020, Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian oposition leader who was killed recently, was similarly poisoned. Russian support for Syria’s government, which has used chemical weapons on civilians, adds further weight to these accusations.
Despite these condemnations, Russia has applied for a seat on the OPCW’s Executive Council for the 2025-2027 term that is absolutely cynical. For many, this bid is viewed as an attempt by Russia to shield itself from accountability within the very body tasked with preventing the use of chemical weapons. Can the international community really allow a country that flouts chemical weapons laws to influence the very organization tasked with enforcing them?
Ukraine firmly believes that any use of chemical weapons is a gross violation of international law. The memories of Syrians and Ukrainians harmed by these attacks weigh heavily on the world’s conscience, reminding us that every life lost or scarred by chemical warfare is an undeniable tragedy. Ukraine is calling on the global community to deny Russia’s seat on the OPCW Executive Council and to support investigations into Russia’s actions in Ukraine. How can we, in good conscience, allow Russia to hold power within the OPCW? To give them a place on the Executive Council would send a dangerous message—that those who violate the rules can also shape them. The international community must stand united, both in demanding accountability and in reaffirming that the Chemical Weapons Convention remains a shield for humanity and international order, not a tool for those who would continue ruining it. Many victims in Syria and Ukraine, murdered by Russia’s use of chemical weapons, call on us!
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Ukrainian Embassy in Amman statement: Russia’s Use of Chemical Weapons in Ukraine Undermines Global Security
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