Berlin: A joint intelligence report released by the Netherlands and Germany has raised serious concerns over what officials are calling the widespread and methodical use of banned chemical weapons by Russian forces in Ukraine. The findings point to an alarming normalization of chemical warfare tactics, with Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans warning that such acts are no longer isolated, but “standardized and growing in frequency.”
According to the report, Russian troops have been deploying choking agents like chloropicrin—a chemical outlawed under the Chemical Weapons Convention using improvised delivery systems. These include filling household items such as lightbulbs and plastic bottles with toxic substances, which are then dropped from drones into Ukrainian trenches to flush out soldiers. Once exposed, these troops become vulnerable to further attack. German intelligence services have corroborated the evidence gathered by their Dutch counterparts, affirming the seriousness of the threat.
The human toll is escalating. Ukrainian health officials have reported over 2,500 cases of chemical-related injuries on the battlefield and linked at least three deaths to chemical exposure. Ukrainian authorities further allege nearly 9,000 instances of chemical weapons use since the full-scale invasion began, marking a troubling intensification of unconventional warfare.
Dutch intelligence chief Peter Reesink emphasized that this is not a case of battlefield improvisation, but rather the result of a systematic and state-supported military program. He revealed that Russian military units have received explicit instructions on how to utilize chemical agents in combat. “This is no longer a one-off tactic it’s a deeply integrated element of Russian frontline strategy,” Reesink said.
International legal and diplomatic mechanisms are now under scrutiny. Despite Russia’s membership in the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), no formal investigation has been launched by the body due to procedural limitations. The OPCW stated that it has not received a member state request to initiate a full inquiry. Both Russia and Ukraine have previously accused each other of violating chemical weapons norms, but past claims were deemed "insufficiently substantiated."
Meanwhile, Moscow continues to deny the allegations. Russian officials have countered by accusing Ukraine of developing and deploying chemical-laced explosives. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, recently claimed that Ukrainian forces were found storing chloropicrin-based devices in eastern regions an assertion Ukraine categorically denies.
The Dutch defence minister has urged the European Union and global partners to respond swiftly. He called for increased sanctions against Russian individuals and entities linked to chemical weapons operations, as well as the expulsion of Russia from key international institutions, including the OPCW Executive Council. Brekelmans warned that the normalization of chemical weapons use poses a severe threat not only to Ukraine, but to global peace and arms control treaties.
This intelligence revelation may serve as a tipping point, prompting international actors to reevaluate their engagement with Russia within diplomatic, legal, and security frameworks. As the war enters a more brutal and unconventional phase, the international community faces growing pressure to act decisively against violations of chemical warfare conventions.