Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans informed the House of Representatives that Russia has begun using chloropicrin, a more dangerous chemical agent than previously reported substances like teargas. “Russia’s employment of chemical weapons is intensifying. These weapons are being employed systematically and on a large scale,” said Brekelmans.
The intelligence services confirm that chloropicrin, a choking agent which can be fatal in high concentrations in confined spaces, is now in active use by Russian forces. This represents an even more serious breach of international law, as its use is explicitly prohibited under any circumstances by the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Vice Admiral Peter Reesink, director of MIVD, expressed grave concern about the development. “This shows that Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons, and at the same time we have noticed a growing readiness to employ such weapons. The threat emanating from the Russian chemical weapons programme is consequently increasing,” he said.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reports that Russian forces have carried out more than 9,000 chemical attacks against Ukrainian troops since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. At least three Ukrainian soldiers have died directly as a result of exposure to chemical agents.
In addition to direct fatalities, Ukraine states that chemical weapons have indirectly caused many more casualties by forcing soldiers out of cover, making them vulnerable to conventional fire. This tactic has reportedly been employed repeatedly by Russian forces across the front lines.
According to MIVD, AIVD and BND, the use of chemical weapons has now become routine among Russian troops, supported by both military leadership and specialised units such as radiological, chemical and biological defence forces. The agencies warn that the use of both teargas and chloropicrin has become standard and will very likely remain a persistent threat.
Minister Brekelmans called for stronger international action in response. “This is a slippery slope. It is completely unacceptable and again demonstrates the brutality of the aggressor Ukraine has to face,” he said, adding, “We are drawing public attention to this now because the employment of chemical weapons by Russia must not be normalised. Lowering the threshold for the use of this type of weapon poses a danger not only to Ukraine but also to the rest of Europe and the world.”
The intelligence services also point to continued Russian investments in chemical weapons development, including increased research activity and recruitment of new scientists. They emphasise that these developments underline the strategic nature of chemical weapons within Russia’s broader military doctrine.
Source: Dutch Ministry of Defence.
