**Ukraine Asks Global Watchdog to Investigate Russian Chemical Weapons Use**
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), a global watchdog based in The Hague, has been asked by Ukraine to investigate allegations that Russia used banned toxic munitions against its forces. This request comes after intelligence agencies from the Netherlands and Germany claimed to have found evidence of widespread use of illegal weapons by Russia along the frontline.
The OPCW is a disarmament agency with 193 member states, and it has previously established an investigation team in 2018 to examine accusations of chemical weapons use in Syria. The Investigation and Identification Team found that Syrian government forces and Islamic State militants had used banned chemical weapons during the civil war that began in March 2011.
The request by Ukraine follows a similar pattern, with the country asking the OPCW to establish an independent and impartial mechanism to investigate cases of alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The mechanism would be empowered to collect additional evidence and identify perpetrators, organizers, and sponsors of such use.
**Background and Context**
This development is part of a larger conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which escalated when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both sides have denied using chemical weapons, but the United States first accused Russia last year of using chloropicrin, a chemical compound more toxic than riot control agents, which was first used by Germany during World War One.
**Reactions from Other Countries**
The request by Ukraine has been made at the beginning of four days of closed-door meetings by the 41-country Executive Council of the OPCW. The disarmament body had no immediate comment on the request. Meanwhile, Britain recently sanctioned two Russian individuals and one Russian entity as part of its chemical weapons sanctions regime, in its latest effort to punish Moscow for the war in Ukraine.
**Humanitarian Concerns**
At least three Ukrainian deaths have been tied to chemical weapons use, according to the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency. More than 2,500 people injured on the battlefield reported chemical weapons-related symptoms to Ukrainian health authorities. These humanitarian concerns highlight the need for an independent investigation into allegations of chemical weapons use.
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