Enemy has used chemical weapons 11,000 times, 3,000 troops affected – Ukrainian Armed Forces

Representatives of the CBRN Defense Directorate of the Support Forces Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said this at a press conference hosted by Ukrinform.

"At present, we have about 11,000 documented cases of the enemy using hazardous chemical substances, including K-51 and RGVO tear-gas grenades, as well as other modified and improvised explosive devices filled with dangerous chemicals such as chlorine and ammonia," said Colonel Artem Vlasiuk, head of the Civil Protection Department of the CBRN Defense Directorate.

According to him, the enemy most often resorts to chemical agents in areas where it struggles to break through Ukrainian defenses.

"The enemy usually increases its use of dangerous chemical substances in sectors where offensive and assault operations are taking place – where it finds it hardest to breach our lines. These substances are used to 'smoke out' our defenders from positions, trenches, and shelters, making it easier to clear those positions," Vlasiuk said.

He noted that nearly 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen have already been affected by chemical exposure.

"So far, medical services have recorded over 3,000 cases of injuries or poisoning of varying severity. Fatalities have not yet been confirmed, as each case still requires verification. Every incident of injury or poisoning linked to chemical agents must undergo a multifactorial review, which includes interviewing the serviceman, examining his equipment, and assessing the location where he was carrying out his mission," Vlasiuk said.

For his part, Acting Commander of the CBRN Defense Forces and head of the CBRN Directorate Ihor Diak noted that the actual number of affected servicemen could be higher than 3,000.

"These are only the officially documented cases – the ones our trained units were able to identify, sometimes together with medical personnel and law enforcement agencies, including the Security Service of Ukraine, which opens criminal proceedings over violations of the rules of war. In some cases, it is not possible to evacuate a casualty in time to confirm signs of chemical exposure. That is why we are only naming figures that are officially confirmed and documented," Diak said.

September 15 is marked in Ukraine as the Day of CBRN Defense Specialists.

Earlier, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence intercepted an order from a Russian commander to use chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops.

Ukrinform photos are available for purchase here.