International experts find no evidence of chemical weapons use in Ukraine

This is stated in a message on the organization's website published on May 7.

According to the OPCW, “the information provided to the Organisation so far by both sides, together with the information available to the Secretariat, is insufficiently substantiated.”

At the same time, they recognized that allegations of the use of this type of weapon are a cause for concern.

The OPCW points out that all declared stockpiles of chemical weapons in the world were destroyed in July 2023 under its control, but this does not mean that chemical weapons no longer exist.

The organization explains that, according to the Chemical Weapons Convention, any toxic chemicals used because of their toxic properties to cause harm or death are considered chemical weapons.

“To conduct any activities pertaining to allegations of use of toxic chemicals as weapons, the Secretariat of the OPCW would need to be formally seized of a request to conduct such activity by States Parties. So far, the Secretariat has not received any such request for action,” the statement says.

The OPCW plans to continue to monitor the situation.

“We invite those that may have substantiated information to share it with the Secretariat.  In the meantime, the OPCW will continue to provide support to Ukraine, upon its request, in the field of assistance and protection against chemical weapons under Article X of the Convention.”

Chemical weapons use in Ukraine: what is known

In early May, the General Staff reported that the Russians had used ammunition containing hazardous chemicals 444 times against Ukrainian soldiers at the front in April. In total, 1,891 such cases have been recorded since the beginning of the full-scale war.

The New York Times later reported that Russia had used chemical weapons in Ukraine. Thus, the US State Department stated that the Russians had used chloropicrin, a "choking agent" widely used during World War I, as well as tear gas against Ukrainian troops. The use of these gasses in warfare is prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention, an arms control agreement ratified by more than 150 countries, including Russia.

The State Department also announced that the United States would impose sanctions on three government entities linked to Russia's chemical and biological weapons programs and four companies that supported them.