EU Condemns Russia's Escalating Chemical Warfare: 'Unbearable' Attacks to Force Ukraine's Surrender

Russia's Chemical Warfare Escalation: A Growing International Crisis

The European Union has raised alarming concerns about Russia's escalating use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, with top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas revealing that Moscow has deployed banned chemical agents over 9,000 times since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on July 15, 2025, Kallas described Russia's chemical warfare tactics as "unbearable" and part of a deliberate strategy to inflict maximum suffering on Ukrainian forces.

The Estonian politician cited intelligence reports from German and Dutch agencies, which confirmed that Russia's use of chemical weapons is not only systematic but intensifying. This represents a significant escalation in Moscow's violation of international law, as Russia is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which prohibits the use, production, development, and stockpiling of chemical weapons.

The revelation comes at a critical time when Western nations are grappling with how to respond to Russia's increasingly brutal tactics in Ukraine. The use of chemical weapons marks a crossing of yet another red line in international humanitarian law, raising questions about the effectiveness of current sanctions and the international community's ability to deter such violations.

Intelligence Reports Confirm Large-Scale Chemical Weapons Program

Dutch and German intelligence agencies have provided compelling evidence that Russia operates a coordinated and large-scale chemical weapons program in Ukraine. The Netherlands Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD), working alongside Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency, concluded that Russian forces are using banned chemical weapons in a "widespread and standardized" manner.

According to Peter Reesink, head of the Dutch MIVD, the evidence shows thousands of instances of chemical weapons use, contradicting any suggestion that these are isolated incidents. "This isn't just some ad-hoc tinkering at the frontline; it is truly part of a large-scale program," Reesink emphasized. The intelligence agencies have documented Russia's use of chloropicrin, a World War I-era poison gas that is more toxic than riot control agents and banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The systematic nature of these attacks is further evidenced by the fact that Russian forces have made "massive investments" in their chemical weapons program, with Moscow continuing to expand research facilities and recruit new scientists. This level of organization and investment suggests that chemical weapons have become an integral part of Russia's military strategy rather than a desperate last resort.

OPCW Reports Document Systematic Violations

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has published multiple reports confirming Russia's systematic use of banned chemical substances in Ukraine. The third OPCW report, issued in June 2025, provided irrefutable evidence of Russia's blatant violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention, including the discovery of Russian RG-Vo gas grenades and related delivery systems.

Ukrainian authorities have documented 9,712 cases of Russian forces using munitions containing hazardous chemical agents between February 2023 and June 2025. In May 2025 alone, Russian forces deployed dangerous chemical compounds on the battlefield 888 times. The OPCW's independent laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of CS gas (2-Chlorobenzalmalononitrile) and other banned substances in samples collected from combat zones.

The reports document chemical weapons use in multiple regions, including Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and other central Ukrainian frontlines. According to Ukrainian health authorities, more than 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers have reported symptoms consistent with chemical exposure, with at least three confirmed deaths directly attributed to chemical weapons attacks. These findings have provided the legal basis for expanded EU sanctions against Russian entities involved in chemical weapons development and deployment.

Shahed Drones: A New Delivery System for Chemical Weapons

Ukrainian authorities have reported a disturbing development in Russia's chemical warfare tactics: the deployment of Shahed kamikaze drones equipped with toxic substances. The Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council confirmed in April 2025 that Russian forces have modified these Iranian-supplied drones to carry capsules containing concentrated CS gas and other chemical irritants.

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles to deliver chemical weapons represents a significant tactical evolution, allowing Russian forces to deploy banned substances with reduced risk to their own personnel. Ukrainian security services discovered capsules containing highly toxic irritant substances in recovered drone wreckage, confirming that these weapons are being used to scatter poisonous substances and cause harm to civilian and military targets.

This development is particularly concerning because it demonstrates Russia's willingness to adapt and expand its chemical weapons delivery capabilities. The combination of drone technology with chemical weapons creates new challenges for Ukrainian defense forces and represents a further escalation in the conflict's brutality. The international community has struggled to develop effective countermeasures against this new form of chemical warfare, highlighting the need for enhanced air defense systems and protective equipment for Ukrainian forces.

International Response and Sanctions Measures

The European Union has responded to Russia's chemical weapons use with multiple rounds of sanctions targeting individuals and entities involved in the development and deployment of these banned weapons. In May 2025, the EU imposed additional restrictive measures on three Russian entities: the Radiological Chemical and Biological Defence Troops, the 27th Scientific Centre, and the 33rd Central Scientific Research and Testing Institute of the Ministry of Defence.

These sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans, with EU persons and companies forbidden from making funds available to those listed. The EU has also called for the OPCW to establish a timely attribution mechanism to identify those responsible for chemical weapons use and ensure accountability. As of 2025, EU restrictive measures against chemical weapons proliferation and use apply to 25 individuals and 6 entities.

The United States and United Kingdom have also imposed sanctions on Russian officials and entities involved in chemical weapons programs. However, critics argue that these measures have been insufficient to deter Russia's continued use of banned substances. The international community faces the challenge of developing more effective deterrent mechanisms while avoiding escalation that could lead to direct confrontation with Russia.

Global Security Implications and Future Concerns

Russia's systematic use of chemical weapons in Ukraine has profound implications for global security and the international legal framework governing weapons of mass destruction. The normalization of chemical weapons use represents a dangerous precedent that could encourage other nations to violate international conventions and lower the threshold for deploying such weapons.

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans warned that Russia's actions pose a danger "not only to Ukraine, but also for the rest of Europe and the world". The concern extends beyond the immediate conflict, as the erosion of international norms could lead to a broader breakdown of the global security architecture that has prevented the widespread use of chemical weapons since World War I.

Western officials are particularly concerned about the potential for further escalation during the period leading up to any potential ceasefire negotiations. The combination of intensified chemical weapons use with Russia's record-level bombing campaigns suggests that Moscow is seeking to maximize pressure on Ukraine before any diplomatic resolution. This strategy of inflicting maximum suffering to force surrender represents a fundamental challenge to international humanitarian law and the principles underlying the modern international system.