Battle Cries in Ukraine: Allegations of Corrosive Gas Attacks
In a stark contrast to the Chemical Weapons Convention's prohibition, CNN has reported allegations by Ukrainian soldiers of numerous gas attacks. One brave soldier shared his harrowing experience, "This gas burns, blinds you, you can't breathe, it shoots you in the throat immediately. We didn't even have a second," he said, recounting the moments of terror.
Recent occurrences in Ukraine, specifically in the Zaporizhzhya region near Orikhiv, have seen Ukrainian soldiers accuse Russia of utilizing gas in attacks. The accusations stem from cases where a corrosive and flammable gas was dropped from drones onto Ukrainian lines. Several soldiers from a frontline unit and an intelligence officer corroborated this account.
Russian forces seemingly employed this gas to disrupt and incite panic before initiating their attacks. A medic reported nine instances of gas use. However, these claims remain unverified, leaving room for speculation. Concerns about Russia deploying poison gas in attacks have been present since the initiation of their aggression against Ukraine over 22 months ago.
The Chemical Weapons Convention stands firm against the use of such weapons. A Ukrainian intelligence officer revealed that the Russians used a type of CS gas, familiarly known as tear gas, in these attacks. This compound can temporarily incapacitate individuals by irritating various bodily functions - eyes, nose, mouth, lungs, and skin.
A soldier recounted seeing smoke, which suddenly ignited upon escaping their trench. He elaborated, "This gas burns, it blinds you, you can't breathe, it shoots you in the throat immediately. We didn't even have a second." Another soldier added, "You inhale it twice, then you can't breathe." The men reported burns and welts on their faces, mouths, and throats as a result of this harrowing event.
Additional Insights:
- The use of such weapons also falls under the category of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) and is subject to the same regulations as other forms of chemical warfare. The broader context of humanitarian impact and human rights abuses by Russian forces further accentuates these concerns.
- The OPCW (Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) has confirmed Russia's use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, violating the Chemical Weapons Convention. This underscores the gravity of such actions, which may be considered a violation of international humanitarian law and human rights.
The Ukraine crisis has seen a surge of accusations involving the use of poison gas attacks, with Ukrainian soldiers reporting instances of corrosive gas in southern Ukraine. These allegations have sparked international concern over potential human rights violations and possible breaches of the UN Chemical Weapons Convention.
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