On Wednesday, the US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces, which violates the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing new sanctions against Moscow.
The sanctions are to penalize companies that assist Moscow in obtaining weaponry for its ongoing war with Ukraine. The sanctions also target Russian government agencies and companies involved in the country's efforts to develop chemical and biological weapons.
In a recently released factsheet, the State Department said that Russia also used riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, which is also in violation of the CWC, in addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin.
The department also claimed that the use of such chemicals is not an isolated incident and is likely driven by Russian forces' desire to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and achieve tactical gains on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department unveiled sweeping sanctions to destroy Russia's industrial and military capabilities.
These sanctions include over 300 Russian, Chinese, and other national firms that are said to have supported President Vladimir Putin's invasion.
Despite Russia's declaration that it no longer has a military chemical arsenal, demands for transparency on the alleged use of hazardous weapons are mounting.
The US National Institute of Health reported that pesticides and military agents use chloropicrin, which is hazardous if inhaled.
"Today's actions will further disrupt and degrade Russia's war efforts by going after its military-industrial base and the evasion networks that help supply it," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
Furthermore, a week after US President Joe Biden signed a long-delayed bill to give Ukraine new funding as its military fights to repel Russian advances, Kyiv was also hit with allegations and penalties.
