Ukrainian officials say Russia is increasing its use of chemical weapons, with more than 200 attacks in January alone.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported Friday that it has recorded 815 cases in which Russian forces deployed weapons “loaded with toxic chemicals.”
There were 229 such incidents in January alone, and military officials had previously said that in just one day (January 29) Russian forces launched five separate attacks using munitions containing poisonous chemicals, the Kyiv Independent reports.
The government has claimed that Moscow is using chloropicrin, a poisonous gas used in World War I, in its attacks.
But officials now say the Russians are also using CS, or tear gas, in their grenades.
The use of CS as a chemical weapon was prohibited in the Geneva Conventions, and Article I of the International Chemical Weapons Convention states: “Each State Party undertakes not to use riot control agents as a method of warfare.”
Russia has denied using chemical weapons in its ongoing war with Ukraine and has instead claimed that Ukrainian forces are the ones using chemical weapons.
Ukraine accused Russia on Friday of using toxic chemicals in more than 200 battlefield attacks in January alone, a sharp increase in what it said were recorded cases of their use by Russian forces. REUTERS
The report comes as the country struggles to meet demand for ammunition amid personnel shortages.
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that he replaced the country’s popular commander in chief, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, with Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
“As of today, a new management team assumes leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the president said in a statement.
Zelensky said in his statement that he had met with Zaluzhnyi to discuss high-level changes and asked the general to remain “on his team.”
Russia has denied accusations of chemical weapons use in Ukraine and has accused Ukrainian forces of their use, which kyiv denies. AFP via Getty Images
In his late-night speech, Zelensky shed some more light on the reasoning behind his decision to supplant Zaluzhnyi, pointing the finger at Ukraine’s failed summer counteroffensive.
“Unfortunately, we fell short of achieving our state’s goals on land,” he said.
“We have to speak sincerely: the feeling of stagnation, especially in the southern directions, and the difficulties in the battles in the Donetsk region have affected the mood of public opinion. “Ukrainians talk less and less about victory.”
The Ukrainian General Staff said: “815 cases of use of ammunition loaded with toxic chemicals by the Russian Federation were recorded. Of them, only in January 2024: 229 cases.” Andreas Stroh/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com
Zelensky insisted that Zaluzhnyi’s overthrow was “certainly not a political issue,” but was motivated by an urgent need to reorganize army management and draw on the battlefield experience of commanders like Syrskyi, who successfully defended Kiev in the first weeks of the war. and later participated in the surprise counteroffensive that liberated the Kharkiv region.
“I thank General Zaluzhnyi for two years of defense,” the president added. “I am grateful for every victory we have achieved together, thanks to all the Ukrainian soldiers who heroically carry this war on their shoulders.”
With post cables
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Source: vtt.edu.vn