Confirmed: Russia is using chemical weapons in Ukraine.
The chemical used is Chloropicrin, known as one of the poison gasses of World War I.
This is consistent with video evidence I have encountered, where white plastic containers are dropped into Ukrainian fortifications, and Ukrainians are seen rushing outside to put on gas masks.
A Telegram post alleged to be from a Russian assault group says: "Pigs start their mornings not with coffee, but with chloropicrin."
@randahl It's Russia's way of demonstrating their willingness to use NBC weapons (thus strengthening the threat of eventually using nuclear weapons) without actually having to escalate in a way that might cause a serious international reaction. They're pushing the red line to normalize war crimes.
I understand, there will be scepticism when these claims come from the US.
However, Ukraine has been mentioning breaches of the Chemical Weapons Convention for months, and unlike in Iraq, this time there is video and photo evidence from the frontline.
@randahl I'm still back at the Metabiota involvement in biolabs in Ukraine and the captured evidence brought forward by the Russians about that research rather than getting worried about a 'super' (mostly) non lethal teargas product (safe for protesters of all stripes) that Canadians even spray on their crops.