Reports from Ukraine reveal a disturbing increase in Russia's use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian soldiers in the Donbas region.
Drone Dropped Gas Grenade
This escalation is part of Russia’s broader offensive to capture the last cities under Kyiv’s control in Donbas, according to Hotnews.
Ukrainian infantryman Igor, stationed near Chasiv Yar in Donetsk, describes a harrowing encounter from February:
“I thought about everything I should and shouldn’t have thought about,” he recalls. A Russian drone dropped a gas grenade into his trench, releasing suffocating white smoke.
“Five more minutes (in the gas-contaminated trenches) and my lungs would have given out,” he adds. Forced to retreat into the open, Igor and his unit became easy targets for Russian drones and artillery.
4,000 Cases Reported
The use of chemical agents has surged dramatically, with over 4,000 cases reported, up from about 600 at the beginning of the year.
Ukrainian sources confirm the use of tear gas and more dangerous chemicals like chloropicrin. This increase has led to severe health impacts, including injuries and deaths among Ukrainian troops.
Colonel Artem Vlasiuk from the Ukrainian Command for Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection notes that Russian forces have used both tear gases (CS and CN) and more hazardous substances like chloropicrin.
The U.S. State Department has also condemned Russia’s use of these chemicals, citing violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has received detailed reports from Ukraine about these violations. Despite international condemnation, the frequency of chemical attacks by Russian forces continues to rise, significantly impacting Ukrainian soldiers and complicating the conflict in Donba
