**Russia Escalates Use of Chemical Weapons in Ukraine, Dutch Intelligence Reports**
The Netherlands Military Intelligence (MIVD) has reported a significant escalation in the use of chemical weapons by Russian forces against Ukrainian troops. According to the report, released on July 4, Russia is using banned chemical agents, including chloropicrin, to panic and disorient Ukrainian soldiers.
**Psychological Warfare Tactic**
Russian troops are dropping gas grenades from drones, forcing Ukrainian forces out of their dugouts and trenches. This makes them easy targets for subsequent drone or artillery attacks. The use of these chemical agents is a deliberate tactic to create fear and disorder among Ukrainian troops.
**Chloropicrin: A Deadly Substance**
The MIVD report confirms that Russia is using chloropicrin, a substance that can kill in high concentrations in enclosed spaces. This is a banned chemical under international law, and its use has been previously reported by the U.S. State Department in May. However, Ukraine lacked the necessary equipment to identify the chemical substances used.
**Escalating Attacks**
Since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has conducted over 9,000 chemical attacks. At least three Ukrainian soldiers have died directly from exposure to toxic substances, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. Dutch intelligence has established that Russian military leadership actively facilitates these chemical attacks, making them a standard practice for Russian forces.
**Moscow Increases Investments**
The MIVD and AIVD report also notes that Moscow is increasing investments in chemical weapons programs, expanding research, and recruiting new scientists. This indicates a growing commitment to using these banned substances in future conflicts.
**Global Consequences**
The use of chemical weapons by Russia must not become normalized, warns Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans. If the threshold for using such weapons is lowered, it poses a danger not only to Ukraine but also to Europe and the world. The U.S. has already accused Russia of deploying chloropicrin in Ukraine.
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