An Overview of Chloropicrin: The World War 1 Gas Utilized by Russia on Ukrainian Soldiers

A soldier trapped in trenches is faced with a difficult decision – to flee under enemy fire or risk suffocating due to the use of a banned choking gas called Chloropicrin. The US has accused Russia of using this gas to drive out Ukrainian troops during its military invasion in the country. The US Department of State stated that Russia used Chloropicrin to dislodge Ukrainian soldiers from fortified positions and gain tactical advantages on the battlefield. The US claimed that this was not an isolated incident and violated the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention that Russia is a signatory of. However, Russia has denied these allegations and called them baseless.

Chloropicrin, commonly used as an insecticide, was weaponized in World War I. It is an oily substance that was used to wound and suffocate soldiers in trenches. The gas acts as a toxic irritant, causing tearing and burning sensations in the eyes, skin, and lungs. Inhaling a large amount of Chloropicrin can also lead to nausea and vomiting. Soldiers trapped in trenches without gas masks face the dilemma of fleeing under enemy fire or risking suffocation following an attack with Chloropicrin.

Both the US and Ukraine have accused Russia of increasing the use of riot control agents, such as tear gas grenades loaded with CS and CN gases, during its military operations in Ukraine. The US has compared Russia’s use of Chloropicrin to its poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in 2020 and ex-spy Sergei Skripal in 2018. As a response, the US has sanctioned three Russian state entities connected to Moscow’s chemical and biological weapons programs. Additionally, the US Treasury has imposed sanctions on entities and individuals involved in purchasing items for Russian military institutes related to chemical and biological weapons programs.