In May, 237 cases of the use of dangerous chemical substances by Russian forces on the battlefield were recorded.
This was reported by spokesperson for the Command of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Maksym Kravchuk.
“Russian forces systematically use dangerous irritant chemical substances alongside traditional means of fire damage. In May 2026, units of radiation, chemical and biological protection recorded 237 such cases,” he said.
According to the spokesperson, the Russian forces uses gas grenades such as K-51 and RG-Vo, as well as improvised munitions filled with CS and CN agents. The main delivery method is drops from unmanned aerial vehicles. These means are most often used against positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to force personnel out of shelters and gain a tactical advantage in key operational directions, he noted.
Kravchuk stressed that units of radiation, chemical and biological protection of the Support Forces record all cases of the use of dangerous chemical substances, and collected samples are submitted for forensic examination.
He reminded that under the Chemical Weapons Convention, the use of such substances as a means of warfare is prohibited. CS and CN agents may, in peacetime, be used by law enforcement agencies exclusively for riot control under strict limitations, but their use in combat conditions is illegal.
"Although these substances are not classified as lethal chemical agents, they are still dangerous: they cause severe irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, tearing, coughing, choking, disorientation, and temporary loss of combat effectiveness. In some cases, symptoms may indicate the use of other irritants or mixtures of unknown composition," he added.
According to him, trend analysis shows an increase in the intensity of such use during the spring-summer period. In 2024, peaks were recorded in May and June (over 700 and 600 cases respectively), and in 2025 — in May and June (over 800 and 700 cases).
In total, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, more than 13,500 cases of the use of dangerous chemical substances against the Defense Forces have been recorded, Kravchuk said.
In this regard, military personnel are advised not to neglect personal protective equipment, especially gas masks.
