Russia is using unidentified gas as a chemical warfare tactic against Ukrainian troops on the eastern front line. Ukrainian Colonel Artem Vlasiuk stated that the majority of the gas used cannot be identified, making it difficult for Ukraine to diagnose the chemicals being deployed. Russian troops are using this tactic to sow panic among Ukrainian forces, forcing them out into the open field where they are vulnerable to drone or artillery attacks. The use of chemical agents, including tear gas, is a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and is considered a war crime.
Ukraine lacks the sophisticated high-end detector technology needed to identify the new types of gas being used by Russian troops. Colonel Vlasiuk emphasized the need for hundreds of complex detectors that cost between $100,000 to $600,000 each in order to better identify the chemicals being deployed. Without adequate detectors, Ukraine struggles to record what types of gas Russia is using, in what quantity, and in which parts of the front line. Western allies are being urged to provide Ukraine with these detectors, but discussions have been challenging as other resources like ammunition are considered a priority.
The deployment of chemical weapons by Russia has resulted in over 4,600 cases of gas attacks on Ukrainian troops since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The lack of detectors makes it difficult for Ukraine to present evidence to Western allies and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Identifying the unknown gas deployed by Russian troops is crucial for treating the symptoms experienced by Ukrainian soldiers, which include nausea, vomiting, eye and skin irritations, excessive coughing, and chest tightness.
Despite confirmed reports from the U.S. and the U.K. on Russia’s use of chemical weapons, the OPCW has not substantiated this information due to insufficient evidence. The intensity of fighting in Ukraine further complicates the ability to gather evidence of Russia’s gas usage on the battlefield. However, the monthly count of gas grenade attacks has decreased recently, with focus areas being the Pokrovsk sector, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk directions. Russian tactics involve the production and deployment of RG-Vo grenades, with the quantity being unclear but estimated to be on an industrial scale.
As Russia continues to produce and use chemical weapons in Ukraine, there is a significant need for Ukraine to acquire the necessary detectors to identify the gas being deployed by Russian troops. Colonel Vlasiuk highlighted that the production sites for these weapons are known, but the specific contents of the RG-Vo grenades remain unknown to Ukraine. The use of chemical weapons in the conflict not only violates international treaties but also poses a significant threat to the health and safety of Ukrainian troops on the front line. The ongoing deployment of unidentified gas by Russia underscores the urgent need for international support and resources to combat this dangerous tactic.
