OPCW Confirms Russia's Use of Banned Chemical Weapons in Ukraine

On February 14, experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed that Russian forces are using grenades containing banned chemical substances in their war against Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Ministry reported that OPCW experts analyzed Russian tear gas grenades (RG-V) and samples of soil and grass provided by Ukraine. Two independent, certified OPCW laboratories confirmed that the evidence contained CS, a chemical commonly used in riot control agents.

“These findings confirm that the materials provided by Ukraine contain CS, which is part of riot control agents,” the Ministry stated.

Ukraine has consistently informed the international community about Russia’s use of prohibited chemicals, including RG-V grenades. From February 2023 to February 2025, 6,129 instances of Russian forces using munitions containing hazardous chemicals were documented. These chemicals include:

• CS (chlorobenzalmalonitrile): A common component of tear gas.

• CN (chloracetophenone): A more toxic tear gas component, which can cause severe eye irritation and skin burns.

• Chloropicrin: A toxic substance that has a suffocating and irritating effect, historically used as a chemical weapon during World War I.

• Mercaptans (tear-producing agents): Chemicals with a strong odor, which can cause nausea and headaches.

These actions violate Article 1, Paragraph 5 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated, “While Russia claims to be ready to end its armed aggression against Ukraine, it continues to mock the international community and undermine global efforts aimed at achieving a world free of chemical weapons.”

The Ministry also called for the formation of an international coalition to hold Russia accountable for its violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Previously, it was reported that a Russian drone strike hit a nuclear shelter above Reactor 4 of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, with a radiation leak now a possibility, though the situation is under control.