Russia Denies Using Chemical Weapons Against Ukrainian Troops

The Russian Federation has denied allegations that its forces used chemical substances against Ukrainian troops in the ongoing war between the two countries, dismissing the claims as politically motivated accusations.

The denial followed a recent publication by Ukraine’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenko, who alleged that 14,009 incidents involving chemical substances were recorded between February 2023 and September 2026.

Kholostenko also claimed that Ukrainian servicemen sought medical attention in 6,021 cases after experiencing symptoms of chemical exposure of varying severity.

However, the Russian Embassy in Abuja, in a statement on Sunday, described the allegations as a “chemistry of double standards,” accusing Kyiv of using statistics to portray Russia as guilty without presenting sufficient evidence.

The Russian Mission also questioned the consistency of Ukraine’s figures, citing a report by Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Andriy Kostin, who reportedly presented 3,632 cases involving symptoms of chemical injury on October 8, 2026.

“While Kholostenko claims that 6,021 Ukrainian servicemen sought medical assistance following chemical exposure, his colleague Andriy Kostin, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, reported 3,632 cases involving symptoms of chemical injury on October 8, 2026,” the statement said.

Russia categorically rejected the allegations, insisting that riot control agents were not issued to its armed forces and that their use was not part of its battlefield tactics.

The embassy also cited Russia’s record under the Chemical Weapons Convention, stating that the country completed the verified destruction of its declared chemical weapons stockpile in 2017 under the supervision of the OPCW Technical Secretariat.

It said Russia had consistently advocated for the depoliticisation of the organisation and its restoration as an impartial technical body responsible for ensuring compliance with the convention.

The Russian Mission further accused Ukrainian forces of using toxic chemicals, claiming that Moscow had repeatedly submitted laboratory findings, photographs of recovered munitions and other evidence to the OPCW.

It also alleged that Western-manufactured chemical devices and supplies of toxic substances and precursors, including CS, CR and BZ agents, had been provided to Ukraine.

According to the embassy, investigations had exposed the involvement of foreign suppliers in providing Ukrainian forces with hazardous chemical materials.

It criticised what it described as the limited attention given to these allegations by Ukraine’s Western allies, arguing that evidence should be examined impartially, regardless of which party it implicates.

The embassy also questioned the OPCW’s handling of technical assistance requests, claiming that Ukraine had received three technical assistance visits while Russia’s corresponding request remained under consultation.

It argued that the situation raised questions about whether the Chemical Weapons Convention was being applied equally to all member states.

Beyond the battlefield allegations, Russia accused Ukrainian forces of targeting chemical-industrial facilities containing hazardous substances, including the Azot and Metafrax plants in the Perm region on September 11.

The embassy warned that attacks on such facilities could trigger toxic releases, environmental disasters and civilian casualties.

It also alleged that Ukraine could stage chemical incidents to implicate Russia, particularly as Ukrainian forces faced mounting difficulties on the battlefield.

Addressing the OPCW’s findings, the Russian Mission acknowledged that the organisation had confirmed the presence of CS in certain samples collected in Ukraine. However, it cited a statement attributed to the OPCW Director-General on October 6, arguing that laboratory analysis alone did not establish the use of riot control agents as a method of warfare.

The embassy further maintained that the organisation had not attributed Ukraine’s 14,009 alleged incidents to Russia, accusing the Ukrainian ambassador of presenting allegations as established facts.

It also criticised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte over remarks it said encouraged attributing incidents to Russia when responsibility was considered highly likely.

The Russian Mission argued that such an approach undermined the principles of impartial investigation and evidence-based attribution in international affairs.

It accused Kyiv and its Western allies of attempting to draw the OPCW into geopolitical disputes, insisting that the organisation should uphold the Chemical Weapons Convention rather than endorse politically motivated accusations.

“Impressive numbers are no substitute for convincing evidence, and repeating an allegation does not make it true,” the embassy stated.

The Russian Mission said it would continue presenting what it described as evidence of Ukrainian violations and pressing for the convention to be applied equally to all states parties.

It also urged the OPCW to maintain its independence and credibility, warning against its use as an instrument for advancing the geopolitical interests of individual governments.

The embassy concluded that preserving the independence of international institutions was particularly important for Nigeria and other countries committed to multilateralism.

It accused Kyiv and its Western allies of combining allegations, selective evidence and political pressure in an attempt to influence the OPCW’s findings.