Jul 4 — Dutch intelligence has gathered evidence of Russia’s use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, said Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans to Reuters.

“The main conclusion is that we can confirm Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons,” he said.

Brekelmans called for tougher sanctions against Moscow.

The Minister said that at least three Ukrainian soldiers died because of chemical weapons use, while more than 2,500 people who were injured on the battlefield reported chemical weapons-related symptoms to Ukrainian health authorities.

“We specifically linked the use of chloropicrin to improvised munitions, such as filled light bulbs and empty bottles that are hung from a drone. When it comes to teargas, we see that they are also misusing and converting existing munitions to act as the carrier for the gas,” said Peter Reesink, the head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency.

The General Staff of Ukraine reported about 767 cases of Russian use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine in March 2025.

Russia has used a chemical weapon 7,730 times since February 2023. 

Chloropicrin is listed as a banned choking agent by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which was created to implement and monitor compliance with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention.

It can cause severe irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. If ingested, it can cause burns in the mouth and stomach, nausea and vomiting, and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied to journalists that Russian forces in Ukraine had violated an international ban on chemical weapons.

Dutch intelligence said that increased use of chemical weapons by Russia poses a threat not only to Ukraine but to other countries. They added that they work with foreign partners to uncover concrete evidence of intensified Russian chemical weapons production.

Reesink noted that Russian officials have given instructions to soldiers on the use of poisonous warfare agents.

The United States first accused Russia of using chloropicrin, a chemical compound more toxic than riot control agents and first used by Germany during World War One, in May last year.

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