MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Ukraine’s military used toxic agents banned in the European Union in its recent attacks on Russian troops, Chief of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov said on Monday.

"On January 31, 2024, an unknown toxic chemical was used on Russian troop positions, the effects of which resulted in upper respiratory burns, nausea, and vomiting. The results of the research revealed the presence of the poisonous anthraquinone substance, which has a pronounced toxic effect and causes blindness, liver, and kidney dysfunction. Anthraquinone is banned in EU countries due to its carcinogenic effect," the Russian general told a press briefing on violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) by the United States and Ukraine

In violation of the Convention, the United States transferred non-lethal chemical weapons to third countries, in particular, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine. For their procurement for using them in combat areas in Syria and Iraq, the US Department of Defense Budget Planning Department allocated $10 million in fiscal year 2018, he said.

During Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, cases of the use of US chemical munitions by the Ukrainian army were recorded, he added.

"For example, on December 28, 2023, in the Krasny Liman tactical direction, copter-type UAVs dropped US-manufactured gas grenades filled with the CS substance on the positions of Russian troops. This substance is irritating to the eyes and upper respiratory tract, and in high concentrations can cause skin burns, respiratory paralysis, and cardiac arrest. The compound belongs to the class of chemical riot control agents," the Russian general said.

Earlier, on June 15, 2023, the Ukrainian military used a drone with a plastic container containing a mixture of chloroacetophenone and chloropicrin against Russian troops near Rabotino in the Zaporozhye Region, he said.

"While the former compound is classified as a chemical riot control agent, chloropicrin is listed in Schedule 3 of the CWC and is banned for use even for law enforcement purposes. Repeated use of chloropicrin-filled munitions was recorded near Rabotino on August 3 and 11, 2023," Kirillov said.