Russia ramps up chemical weapons use in Ukraine, European intel says

“Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons, and at the same time, we have noticed a growing readiness to employ such weapons,” said Peter Reesink, Director of the Netherlands’ Defense Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD).

“The threat emanating from the Russian chemical weapons programme is consequently increasing.”

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized that Russia is using chemical weapons “systematically and on a large scale,” calling it unacceptable.  

“We are drawing public attention to this now because the employment of chemical weapons by Russia must not be normalized,” he said.  

In early March 2025, Ukraine presented evidence of Russia’s systematic use of chemical weapons in the war against Ukraine at the 108th session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, highlighting a gross violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.  

In May 2024, the U.S. State Department cited Russia’s use of chlorpicrin against Ukrainian Armed Forces as justification for new sanctions against Russia.  

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, as of March 5, 2025, Russia has used munitions containing hazardous chemical substances over 6,900 times during the three years of its full-scale war.

Since the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion, nearly 3,400 Ukrainian soldiers have received medical treatment for symptoms of poisoning by unknown chemical substances, the Ministry of Defense reported.

On April 14, 2025, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported that Russian forces systematically use munitions containing toxic gas against Defense Forces, which affects the mucous membranes and respiratory system. Exposure to the chemical without protective gear can be fatal, according to the intelligence.