The use of prohibited toxic warfare agents has become a regular battlefield tactic for the Russian army. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 13,300 cases of the use of chemical munitions by the Russian forces have been officially recorded.
This was stated in Chișinău during a meeting of the Information Exchange Group on Technical Assistance to Ukraine within the G7 “Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction” initiative by Colonel Valerii Veber, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection and Environmental Safety.
The Ukrainian delegation presented international partners with data on the dynamics of Russian use of chemical agents. According to the Ministry of Defence, while in 2023 their use was mostly sporadic, since 2024 the intensity of attacks has grown rapidly. As of the first half of 2026, the overall level of use of chemical munitions by the Russian forces remains consistently high along the entire line of contact.
The main purpose of the Information Exchange Group meeting on technical assistance to Ukraine, initiated by the Department for Energy Security and Zero Emissions of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority and the Swedish Defence Research Institute, was to attract additional resources from donor countries.
Given the ongoing threats from the Russian Federation, Ukraine urged partners to increase support in the field of CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) security. In particular, Colonel Valerii Veber presented important project proposals to foreign colleagues:
- Strengthening capabilities in radiation monitoring and response to radiological threats.
- Safe management of spent ionizing radiation sources.
- Improving environmental safety at Ministry of Defence military facilities.
G7 countries are currently reviewing the submitted project proposals for possible additional funding and technical assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
