Breaking The Rules Of War: Russia’s Chemical Assaults Exposed

Recent intelligence reports from the Netherlands and Germany reveal a disturbing escalation in Russia’s use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces, marking a blatant breach of international law.

According to both Dutch and German agencies, as of Friday, July 4, 2025, Moscow’s military has deployed prohibited chemical agents, including the suffocating compound chloropicrin, as part of an alarming and systematic campaign.

Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans described the situation starkly in a social media post, stating, “The use of chloropicrin has become normalized and widespread.”

He explained that Russian forces have been employing drones to drop this choking agent on Ukrainian trenches, forcing soldiers out of cover and exposing them to deadly conditions.

Brekelmans condemned the tactic as “horrible and unacceptable,” emphasizing the urgent need for stronger punitive measures against Russia.

Corroborating these claims, Peter Reesink, confirmed that their findings stem from extensive investigations revealing “thousands of instances” where chemical weapons were used by Russian troops.

Reesink is the head of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD).

He stressed that this was no isolated or experimental action but a large-scale, organized program.

“If we fail to expose and publicize these actions, the risk is high that Russia will continue to employ these banned weapons,” he warned.

Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) also supported the Dutch findings.

The BND confirmed Russia’s use not only of tear gas but also of chloropicrin, a chemical agent considered significantly more dangerous and capable of causing fatal harm in confined spaces.

In a statement, the agency stressed that such use constitutes a serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which strictly forbids the deployment of lung-damaging warfare agents under any circumstance.

Addressing Reuters, Brekelmans highlighted the human toll of these chemical attacks, linking at least three Ukrainian fatalities directly to Russia’s use of such weapons.

Additionally, more than 2,500 individuals have reportedly experienced symptoms associated with exposure to these banned substances.

To counteract this threat, he called for intensifying international pressure, proposing enhanced sanctions and advocating for Russia’s exclusion from influential international forums.

These includesuch as the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

While these allegations have gained significant traction, both Russia and Ukraine deny deploying chemical weapons.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova recently claimed that the Federal Security Service discovered a stockpile of Ukrainian chemical arms, including chloropicrin, in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the OPCW, the international disarmament agency headquartered in The Hague with 193 member states, has yet to launch a comprehensive investigation.

Last year, the OPCW described accusations from both Russia and Ukraine as “insufficiently substantiated.”

A full inquiry can only proceed upon requests from member states, which has not yet occurred.

Ongoing Conflict and Diplomacy Amid Intensified Attacks

These alarming reports arrive as Ukraine faces the heaviest barrage of Russian drone and missile strikes since the war began.

Ukrainian air force officials reported an unprecedented assault involving 539 drones and 11 missiles fired overnight, marking the largest attack to date.

The strikes on Kyiv resulted in at least 23 injuries, destruction of railway infrastructure, and numerous fires affecting buildings and vehicles.

In retaliation, Ukraine launched a drone strike in Russia’s Rostov region, killing at least one civilian and prompting evacuations from multiple homes, according to the acting regional governor.

Despite the relentless fighting, both nations confirmed a recent prisoner exchange conducted under the terms of an agreement reached in Istanbul in June.

Details about the number of soldiers involved remain undisclosed, reflecting the sensitive nature of these negotiations amid the ongoing conflict.

Diplomatic efforts continue with varying degrees of success.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration following a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He stated that no significant progress was made toward ending the hostilities.

Putin reportedly reiterated his stance that Russia’s military operations would cease only if the “root causes” of the conflict were addressed.

Trump indicated plans to speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy soon, with Zelenskyy hoping to discuss the critical topic of U.S. weapons supplies to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has recently paused certain arms deliveries to Kyiv promised during the Biden administration.

This decision reflects a Pentagon reassessment of current munitions stockpiles and may signal a strategic shift under Trump’s more cautious approach to global military involvement.

Among the withheld weapons are munitions intended for Patriot air defense systems and Hellfire missiles, according to U.S. media reports.

Notably, Russian officials confirmed that the recent U.S. decision to suspend parts of its military aid to Ukraine was not discussed during the Putin-Trump call, as stated by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.

The intensification of chemical weapon use amid escalating drone and missile attacks underscores the brutal nature of the conflict in Ukraine.

It also highlights the critical need for the international community to hold perpetrators accountable and bolster diplomatic efforts to restore peace in the region.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook