this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2025
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THE HAGUE, July 4 (Reuters) - Dutch and German intelligence agencies have gathered evidence of widespread Russian use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, including dropping a choking agent from drones to drive soldiers out of trenches so they can be shot, they said on Friday. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans called for tougher sanctions against Moscow. "The main conclusion is that we can confirm Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons," he told Reuters. "This intensification is concerning because it is part of a trend we have been observing for several years now, where Russia's use of chemical weapons in this war is becoming more normalized, standardized, and widespread." Germany's BND foreign intelligence agency confirmed the findings, saying in a statement that it had obtained the evidence alongside its Dutch counterparts. Reuters was first to report on the intelligence. The head of the Dutch Military Intelligence Agency (MIVD), Peter Reesink, said the conclusions followed "our own independent intelligence, so we have observed it ourselves based on our own investigations."

Chloropicrin is listed as a banned choking agent by OPCW, which was created to implement and monitor compliance with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It can cause severe irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. If ingested, it can cause burns in the mouth and stomach, nausea and vomiting, as well as difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.

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[–] WrenFeathers@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Three facts to consider:

One: Take note of how quickly nothing happens as a result of this. Because very soon, nothing will happen.

Two: Earth is just a playground for the powerful. And the more power they can wring out of it- the more play the ground provides.

…and

Three: Putin is untouchable. He always has been. Unless anyone thinks all of those people flying out of open windows were supposed to subtle. He murders people in plain sight. Trump has recently solidified his status as untouchable.

What do you think happens next?

[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

No one is untouchable. No one is invincible. No one has unlimited resources.

One day Putin will seem untouchable. The next day he gets pulled out of a ditch like Gaddafi.

[–] AlphaOmega@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Russia is getting more desperate by the day. Last month it was motorcycles and Ladas, now they are pulling out chemical warfare. They must be losing their ass if they are resorting to WWII tactics.

[–] Potti@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago

Friendly reminder that it is still very much legal to use (non deadly) chemical weapons on a states own citizens though.