Ukraine accuses Russia of systematic chemical weapons use at OPCW session
The delegation of Ukraine took part in the 111th session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), held in The Hague from March 10 to 13, where it stated that Russia has been systematically using hazardous chemical substances against Ukraine.
According to Ukrinform, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Netherlands reported this on Facebook.
“Against the backdrop of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Ukrainian delegation stressed that Russia’s systematic use of hazardous chemical substances on the battlefield undermines the global non-proliferation regime and international security. A key issue discussed during the session was Russia’s ongoing and escalating use of toxic chemicals and riot control agents against Ukraine – a blatant violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Ukrainian authorities have documented more than 12,500 incidents involving Russian munitions containing hazardous chemical substances. Findings from three OPCW Technical Assistance Visits confirmed the presence of riot control agents in the samples provided by Ukraine,” the statement said.
Head of the Ukrainian delegation and Permanent Representative to the OPCW Andriy Kostin stressed the critical importance of effective mechanisms within the OPCW capable not only of establishing the facts of chemical weapons use but also identifying those responsible, including perpetrators, organizers and sponsors.
The Ukrainian side emphasized that these incidents indicate a systemic pattern linked to the Russian Federation, which includes not only their battlefield use in Ukraine but also the use of nerve agents in the United Kingdom in the Skripal poisoning case and against Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny.
In this context, Ukraine supported a joint initiative by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom calling for Russia to be held accountable for repeated and systematic violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The Ukrainian delegation also drew attention to new dangerous trends in the use of toxic chemical substances on the battlefield, including their delivery by unmanned aerial vehicles into trenches and other confined positions.
Ukraine expressed gratitude to the OPCW Director-General and the Technical Secretariat for their continued support, including expert assistance in Ukraine’s national investigations. Ukraine also thanked partner states for voluntary contributions supporting capacity building to counter chemical threats.
Ukraine reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the goals and principles of the Chemical Weapons Convention and stated its intention to continue working with the OPCW and partners to strengthen the global ban on chemical weapons and ensure accountability for their use.
As previously reported, Russia was not elected for the third consecutive time to the OPCW Executive Council for 2026–2028, while Ukraine secured a seat on the organization’s governing body for the second consecutive term, which Kyiv described as an important signal from the international community.
Photo: Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of the Netherlands / Facebook