The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed on Nov. 18 that a riot control agent known as CS has been used in Ukraine, as evidence mounts that Russia has scaled up its attacks using chemical weapons in recent months.

The United Nations watchdog OPCW’s first confirmation about the tear gas usage comes as Russia has intensified its use of chemical agents since the beginning of the year to advance forward across Ukraine’s front line.

Russian drones throw gas grenades into dugouts or trenches in an attempt to force Ukrainian soldiers out into the open field, making them easy prey for drone or artillery attacks.

The U.S. and the U.K. have confirmed Russia’s deployment of chemical weapons against Ukrainian soldiers, slapping sanctions on Russia’s troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense, their chief, Russian Defense Ministry scientific centers, and companies involved.

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  • rockSlayer@lemmy.worldEnglish
    13·
    5 hours ago

    I’d just like to take a moment to observe that it’s a war crime to use CS in war, but perfectly acceptable to use on civilians. Maybe we should re-evaluate crowd control tactics.

    • deranger@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      6·
      3 hours ago

      As far as I understand it, this is due to fears of escalation rather than any acute effect of the gas itself. Someone gets hit with CS gas, they don’t know what it is right away, and they retaliate with lethal chemical weapons. Nonlethal chemical agents just increase the chance for confusion on the battlefield so they banned chemical agents altogether, including harassing agents like CS.

      Along similar lines though, the rules of engagement for soldiers are way more stringent than the rules of engagement for police (do they even have any in the US?). I consider this much more egregious than tear gas regulations. Tear gas isn’t fun but it’s survivable. Bullets on the other hand, not so much.

    • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      3 hours ago

      War crimes are mutually agreed by close to parity powers. Crowd control isn’t. One group decides what is acceptable and what isn’t. I would be surprised if any government allow citizens the right to use CS gas on their police force.

      They aren’t going to reevaluate crowd control tactics because the crowd don’t have the power to force a change.

      • masterofn001@lemmy.caEnglish
        2·
        3 hours ago

        No biggie. I’ve been on the receiving end of cs grenades more than a few times. In Canada.

        Funny that chemical weapons are only a war crime when used in times of war, but my own government has and does use it at leisure.