Russia asks chemical weapons watchdog to investigate Ukraine
'The Russian side continues to document not only instances of Ukrainian nationalists using toxic chemicals and military-grade poison agents, but also evidence of a widespread system for their mass production in Ukraine,' Russian envoy Vladimir Tarabrin said at a session of the OPCW Executive Council in The Hague on Thursday.
The diplomat added that Moscow has requested the OPCW to dispatch experts to verify its findings.
Earlier this month, Russia announced the discovery of a makeshift lab allegedly used by Ukrainian troops to store chloropicrin – a choking agent banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention. According to Moscow, Ukrainian forces have dropped toxic substances from drones.
Ukraine also asked the OPCW earlier this month to investigate the alleged use of banned chemical munitions by Russia. Last Friday, Germany and the Netherlands accused the Russian army of dropping choking agents on Ukrainian trenches.
Tarabrin rejected the accusations and accused the 'pro-war faction' in the EU of 'waging a campaign to falsify evidence.'
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