UK Imposes Sanctions on Russian Military Over Chemical Weapons Use in Ukraine

The United Kingdom announced sanctions against the Russian Armed Forces' Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense troops and their commander, Igor Kirillov, in response to the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. The measures were detailed in a statement from the British government.

These sanctions follow the acknowledgment by Russian troops of employing chloropicrin, a toxic substance first used in World War I, which constitutes a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and international law.

According to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized that the UK would not remain passive in the face of such violations and would continue to impose sanctions on the regime of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. He stated that Russia’s inhumane tactics would not go unpunished and that the UK would hold accountable those responsible for these actions.

Defense Secretary John Healy reiterated the UK’s commitment to punishing violations of international law and supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary. He declared that the UK’s message to Putin and his regime is clear: there will be consequences for breaching international law.

The UK also sanctioned two Russian laboratories linked to the development of chemical weapons and pledged to maintain its military and financial support for Ukraine, including an annual assistance package of £3 billion.

The sanctions encompass not only the Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense troops and Kirillov but also the 27th and 33rd Research Centers of the Russian Ministry of Defense, which are alleged to be involved in the development and deployment of chemical weapons.

The United States and its allies previously accused Russia of using chemical weapons in the conflict against Ukraine, with the US State Department concluding that chloropicrin was used against Ukrainian forces. This substance is classified as a chemical weapon by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and has been known for its irritant properties, leading to severe respiratory effects in high concentrations.

As previously reported, Russian armed forces have increased their use of ammunition filled with dangerous chemicals in Ukraine, violating the Chemical Weapons Convention. In August 2024 alone, there were 447 recorded instances of chemical munitions being used against Ukrainian troops. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, there have been over 4,000 such incidents.

According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian forces are employing chemical agents such as CS (2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile) and chloropicrin. While these substances are not formally classified as chemical weapons, their use in combat situations is deemed unacceptable. In May 2024, Ukrainian radiation, chemical, and biological intelligence units documented 715 cases of munitions containing dangerous chemical compounds, which is 271 more than in April.

As a result of these attacks, Ukrainian medical authorities reported that 1,385 military personnel sought medical assistance due to symptoms of chemical exposure, with 215 cases occurring in May alone.