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Russia documents use of toxic substances by Ukrainian forces — top brass

Igor Kirillov cited a documented case of the use of a toxic chemical on August 19, 2022, specifically involving an analogue of the BZ chemical warfare agent, which is included in Schedule 2 of the CWC

MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. The Ukrainian armed forces have repeatedly used toxic substances against Russian servicemen, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Russian Armed Forces’ Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Protection Troops, said.

"Cases of the Ukrainian military using toxic substances against Russian servicemen have been recorded," Kirillov said at a Russian Defense Ministry briefing on violations by the US and Ukraine of the requirements of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

As an example, he cited a documented case of the use of a toxic chemical on August 19, 2022, specifically involving an analogue of the BZ chemical warfare agent, which is included in Schedule 2 of the CWC.

According to the senior defense official, the analogous substance was found on January 28, 2024, during an operational search of a cache uncovered in Melitopol, Zaporozhye Region. The poisonous substance was contained in vials bearing the inscription "Biosporin" in Ukrainian.

In addition, according to Kirillov, on February 8 and February 16, 2023, two instances of the Ukrainian forces’ use of drone-borne hydrogen cyanide were documented.

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