Russia is reportedly making extensive use of chemical grenades in its war against Ukraine.
Investigations by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s SKIMS unit revealed that the Russian National Institute for Applied Chemistry (NIIPH), located outside Moscow, is a central supplier of RG-Vo grenades to Russian forces.
These grenades, filled with toxic gases such as CS and CN, are banned in warfare under the international Chemical Weapons Convention, though they are commonly known as riot control agents.
Ukrainian soldiers have described the effects as severe burns, choking, and an inability to fight. Prosecutors in Kyiv have labeled the Russian use of such weapons a “war crime.” The Ukrainian army says the grenades are now deployed across nearly all fronts, with Russia’s 114th and 136th motorized brigades specifically documented using them.