Ukrainian troops terrified as Russia intensifies use of ‘chemical weapons’: Report

Ukrainian troops have accused Russia of systematically using internationally outlawed chemical gas attacks on the battlefield. In statements given to the Daily Telegraph, they said Russia regularly uses small drones to drop teargas and other chemicals. The use of such substance, known as CS, is banned under international treaties, primarily the Chemical Weapons Convention.

According to a top Ukrainian commander, the frequent CS attacks have forced the Ukrainian troops to carry gas masks to the frontlines.

A commander of the Ukrainian army on the frontlines in Donetsk Oblast claimed, "Nearly every position in our area of the front was getting one or two gas grenades dropped on them a day."

"The only way for them to successfully attack us [is] with gas," he added.

The commander added that the tactic has induced fear and panic among troops on the frontlines. As and when gas is detected, "the first instinct is to get out", he is quoted as saying.

As troops get out of their trenches and start running away, Russian troops easily take them down from far away. Ukraine claims Russia has carried out 625 gas-related attacks on their troops since the war broke out in 2022.

While most of the troops on the frontlines now carry gas masks, their effectiveness is highly limited as they are ex-Soviet models and not fit for modern-day war.

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As a result, President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the West for urgent support and weapons needed for a counteroffensive.

"We don't have shells for counteroffensive actions, as for the defence - there are several initiatives, and we're receiving weapons," he said last week.

One of the chemical weapons allegedly used by Russia was identified as a K-51 gas grenade by chemical weapons expert Marc-Michael Blum. These grenades are typically filled with tear gas.

It is to be noted that even Russia had accused Ukraine of using chemical weapons back in 2023.

Russia accused Ukrainian forces of using unspecified chemical weapons in drones in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine.

Both sides deny claims.

(With inputs from agencies)

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