Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: “During the special military operation, cases of the use of U.S. chemical munitions by the AFU were recorded”

Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier with a set of biochemical weapons
Photo: NY Post

Briefing by Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of Armed Forces of Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov on violations of Chemical Weapons Convention by U.S. and Ukraine. Main points:

• According to OPCW timelines, the United States should have completed the destruction of declared chemical weapons stockpiles in 2007, but despite its economic capacity, it did so only in 2023, twice postponing the deadline on the pretext of financial, organisational, and technical difficulties.
• At the same time, the destruction was supervised by limited inspection teams, which did not include experts from Russia. The United States still retains highly toxic reaction masses left over from the destruction of toxic agents at the Blue Grass (Kentucky) and Pueblo (Colorado).
• Until recently, the U.S. found unaccounted for chemical munitions in their artillery arsenals on a regular basis, which they destroyed unilaterally without timely notification to the OPCW. Such cases occurred in Anniston (Alabama), Hawthorne (Nevada), and Fort Greely (Alaska). On these facts, the OPCW did not make any claims against the U.S. about violation of Article III of the Convention.
• S. munitions left behind have been found in Panama and Cambodia. On Iraqi territory between 2003 and 2011, the United States identified more than 4,500 aerial bombs, artillery, and rocket chemical munitions, containing mustard gas and sarin, some of which were disposed of locally without OPCW authorisation, while others were taken to the United States, their fate remains unknown.
• In addition, until 2018, the United States specified 460 metric tonnes of unspecified toxic substances in annual announcements, about 2% of the total stockpile. According to our information, these are compounds belonging to the class of amididofluorophosphates, better known to the American public as 'Novichok'.
• The transfer of non-lethal chemical weapons to third countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine) is further evidence of the United States' violation of the Convention. For its procurement for use in combat areas in Syria and Iraq, the U.S. Department of Defence Budget Planning Department has allocated $10 million in fiscal year 2018.
• During the special military operation, cases of the use of U.S. chemical munitions by the AFU were recorded.
• For example, on 28 December 2023, in Krasny Liman tactical direction, copter-type UAVs dropped U.S.-manufactured gas grenades filled with the CS substance on the positions of Russian troops. This substance is irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and in high concentrations can cause skin burns, respiratory paralysis, and cardiac arrest. The compound belongs to the class of chemical riot control agents.
• Moreover, the very fact that the U.S. is supplying such munitions in a military conflict is a violation of Article I of the Convention, which obliges States Parties to: '...never under any circumstances transfer directly or indirectly chemical weapons to anyone...'.
• On 31 January 2024, an unknown toxic chemical was used on Russian troop positions, the effects of which resulted in upper respiratory burns, nausea, and vomiting. The results of the research revealed the presence of the poisonous anthraquinone substance, which has a pronounced toxic effect and causes blindness, liver, and kidney dysfunction. Anthraquinone is banned in EU countries due to its carcinogenic effect.
• Earlier, on 15 June 2023, a drone with a plastic container containing a mixture of chloroacetophenone and chloropicrin was used on Russian servicemen near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). While the former compound is classified as a chemical riot control agent, chloropicrin is listed in Schedule 3 of the CWC and is banned for use even for law enforcement purposes. Repeated use of chloropicrin-filled munitions was recorded near Rabotino on 3 and 11 August 2023.
• Thus, Ukraine, with the complicity of Western countries, is not limiting itself to the use of non-lethal chemicals, actively using scheduled chemicals.
• According to available information, the Kiev regime, with the assistance of Western curators, is developing new tactics for conducting combat operations using a 'special chemical belt'. It involves detonating tanks of hydrocyanic acid and ammonia as Russian troops advance. From September to October 2023, the specified chemicals were delivered to areas of Kramatorsk and Kupyansk, which are planned to be placed along motorways and at major transport interchanges.

In all of these cases, the necessary evidence base is available and has been submitted to the OPCW Technical Secretariat. Four months later, there has been no response from the Organisation to the evidence we have provided about Ukraine's violations of the Convention.

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