Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has claimed that Ukrainian forces are deploying chemical weapons against Russian troops on the battlefield. In addition, he stated that Moscow has amassed enough evidence to prove that Kiev is working with Washington to produce components for biological weapons. Ryabkov made these comments in a commentary for the Russian Zvezda TV channel on Thursday, highlighting the alleged involvement of Ukraine in illegal activities related to chemical and biological warfare.
Ryabkov mentioned that it is necessary to separate the issue of the use of chemical warfare agents, which he claimed are being used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, from the research into biological weapons conducted by Kiev in collaboration with Washington. The diplomat stated that Russia is providing relevant international agencies with information about these issues and sending reports to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW.
Regarding violations of the Biological Weapons Convention, Ryabkov said that over the course of the nearly two-and-a-half-year conflict, the Russian military has collected extensive material showing the full extent of cooperation between Washington and Kiev in this area. He described these alleged violations as “unacceptable” and condemned not only by Russia but also by many members of the international community.
Despite Russia’s efforts to raise concerns about Ukraine’s activities, Ryabkov expressed frustration at the lack of clear answers from Kyiv and its Western backers. The OPCW defines a chemical weapon as “a chemical used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties,” which can be dispersed via bombs, artillery shells, or other delivery devices.
Ryabkov’s comments come after the Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier this month that it had discovered a Ukrainian chemical laboratory located near the Donbass town of Avdeevka, captured by Russian troops, that was apparently used to produce highly toxic hydrogen cyanide. Moscow also claimed, citing a Ukrainian POW, that Kiev used chemical agents to produce kamikaze drones.
In addition, Russia has been sounding the alarm for months about what it says is a vast network of biological laboratories in Ukraine, supported by the US and its NATO allies. The US has acknowledged that there are indeed a number of biolabs on Ukrainian soil but insists that they are entirely legal and not being used to produce biological weapons.