War in Ukraine: what is chloropicrin, this chemical agent that Russia is accused of having used?

Did Russia use a chemical agent against Ukrainian forces? In a statement released Wednesday by its State Department, the United States accuses Moscow of having used chloropicrin. According to Washington, Russia is using riot control agents as a “method of war in Ukraine.” If proven, this would be a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), to which Russia is a signatory. But what is it about?

Chloropicrin is a liquid, slightly oily, colorless chemical that has been used as a warfare agent and pesticide. If inhaled, it poses a health risk, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It directly affects the airways, especially the alveoli, explains the MSD Manual. This quickly causes coughing and irritation in those exposed. After a few hours, it triggers significant shortness of breath or chest tightness. In reality, exposure to this chemical creates a buildup of fluid in the lungs, known as pulmonary edema, which can lead to death.

Use prohibited in France since 1991

This poisonous gas was first used during the First World War. It has also been used as a pesticide in agriculture, as well as to kill certain animals considered harmful, such as badgers or foxes. Its use was banned in France in 1991, by ministerial decrees.

Chloropicrin was also at the center of the Jean-Pierre Treiber affair: the latter allegedly poisoned his two victims, Géraldine Giraud and Katia Lherbier, using this chemical gas.

For Washington, “the use of these chemicals is not an isolated incident and is likely motivated by the desire of Russian forces to dislodge Ukrainian forces from fortified positions and to make tactical advances on the battlefield.” Russia has said it no longer possesses a military chemical arsenal, but the country faces pressure for more transparency over the use of toxic weapons it is accused of.