The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has reported a concerning development in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to their latest assessment on December 23, Russian naval infantry units have confirmed the use of prohibited chemical weapons in the village of Krynky, located 30 kilometers northeast of Kherson.
This act is a direct violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, to which Russia is a signatory.
Tactical Shift and Use of K-51 Grenades
The ISW highlights that Russia's 810th Naval Infantry Brigade has admitted on Telegram to intentionally using chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.
This marks a "radical change in tactics" for the Russian military. The brigade is reportedly deploying K-51 grenades from drones over Ukrainian positions. These K-51 aerosol grenades contain CS gas (2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile), commonly known as tear gas, which is used for crowd control and is banned in modern warfare under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Previous Incidents and Ongoing Concerns
This is not the first instance of Russia's use of chemical weapons in the conflict.
Ukraine has documented persistent use of such weapons since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. In August, Russian troops fired artillery barrages with munitions containing chemical substances onto Ukrainian troops.
Additionally, in May, Ukraine's Border Service reported that the Russian military had used munitions with irritant aerosols and chemical grenades near Avdiivka, Donetsk Oblast.
The use of prohibited chemical weapons by Russian forces raises serious concerns about the escalation of the conflict and the blatant disregard for international conventions and human rights.
