The UK government has imposed sanctions on Russian soldiers accused of employing chemical weapons in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The sanctions target Russia’s Radiological Chemical and Biological Defence troops, along with their commander, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who will face an assets freeze and travel ban. Additionally, two scientific laboratories affiliated with the Russian defense ministry have also been designated under these sanctions.
According to the UK Foreign Office, Kirillov serves as a “significant mouthpiece for Kremlin disinformation.” Previously, the US has accused Russian forces of utilizing hazardous chemicals on the battlefield, including “riot control agents” like tear gas and the toxic choking agent chloropicrin, which has historical significance as it was first deployed during World War One.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Russia’s actions, stating that the UK would not “idly sit by while Putin and his mafia state” flouts international law, particularly the Chemical Weapons Convention. He described the use of chemical agents as “cruel and inhumane,” pledging to leverage all available powers to counter these “malign activities.”
Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that the message to Putin’s regime is clear: violating international law will have consequences. He noted that the sanctioned Russian Ministry of Defence centers were involved in supporting the development and deployment of chemical weapons on the front lines. The UK is also committed to providing Ukraine with essential equipment and training to protect its citizens against chemical attacks.
In May, the US had similarly accused Russia of using chemical weapons as a “method of warfare,” claiming that chloropicrin was deployed to gain an advantage in the conflict. The Kremlin has consistently dismissed these accusations as “baseless.”
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) defines chemical weapons as substances intended to cause intentional harm or death through their toxic properties. Chloropicrin, described as an oily substance, can cause severe respiratory issues and other debilitating symptoms, and its use in warfare is explicitly banned under international law.