Russia Intensifying Use of Chemical Weapons Against Ukraine, Says Dutch Defence Minister

Dutch intelligence agencies have gathered evidence of widespread Russian use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, including dropping a choking agent from drones to drive soldiers out of trenches so that they can be shot, the defence minister and chief of military intelligence in the Netherlands told Reuters.

- 

THE HAGUE —

Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans called for tougher sanctions against Moscow.

“The main conclusion is that we can confirm Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons,” he said.

“This intensification is concerning because it is part of a trend we have been observing for several years now, where Russia’s use of chemical weapons in this war is becoming more normalised, standardised and widespread.”

The Dutch intelligence findings on alleged Russian use of chloropicrin, a banned warfare agent first used by Germany during World War I, have not been previously reported.

The head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency, Mr Peter Reesink, said the conclusions followed “our own independent intelligence, so we have observed it ourselves based on our own investigations”.

Reuters has not been able to independently verify the use of banned chemical substances by either side in the Ukraine war.

The United States first accused Russia of using chloropicrin, a chemical compound more toxic than riot control agents, in May 2024.

Ukraine alleges thousands of instances of Russian chemical weapons use.

Russia’s Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article. The country has denied using illegal munitions and has accused Ukraine of doing so.