Over 13,300 Chemical Munitions Used by Russia in Ukraine, Kyiv Reports

Chemical Munitions Crisis in Ukraine

According to Главком: Ukraine's Defense Ministry has documented more than 13,300 instances of Russian forces deploying chemical munitions since the full-scale invasion began. Colonel Valeriy Veber, deputy head of the Main Directorate for Mine Action, Civil Protection, and Environmental Safety, disclosed these figures during a meeting in Chișinău. The session was part of the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction’s Information Exchange Group on Technical Assistance to Ukraine.

Current Threats and International Response

In 2023, the enemy's use of chemical agents was mostly sporadic. However, from 2024 onward, the frequency of chemical munition deployment by occupying forces has surged sharply. As of the first half of 2026, the overall rate of hazardous substance use remains consistently high across the entire front line.

Counterintelligence and Security Service of Ukraine investigators detected elevated radiation levels on debris from a Russian missile used during an attack on the Chernihiv region on the night of April 7, 2026. That missile was equipped with a modified Geran-2 strike drone. The State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate states that the risk of external radiation exposure to the public from solid depleted uranium items is considered low.

Meanwhile, a fighter from the mobile fire team of the Khizhak Brigade, part of Ukraine's Patrol Police Department, destroyed a rare Russian drone loaded with an incendiary mixture. The hostile aerial target was eliminated over the city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast.

Given the threat of chemical substance use, Ukraine is urging international partners to ramp up support in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear safety. Key priorities include:

• enhancing capabilities in radiation monitoring;
• responding to radiological threats;
• safe handling of spent ionizing radiation sources;
• improving environmental safety at Defense Ministry military sites.

The rising number of chemical munition incidents underscores the severity of the threat Ukraine faces amid hostilities. Such weaponry leads to significant environmental and humanitarian consequences, highlighting the need for international security cooperation. Ukraine's requests for support in this area reflect its drive to ensure adequate protection for civilians and military units from hazardous exposures. The focus on radiation safety also points to potential dangers associated with new types of weapons being used by Russian forces.

As the situation evolves, the alarming rise in the use of chemical weapons by Russian forces raises critical concerns about regional safety and international response. To understand the broader implications of these attacks, you can read more about the extensive details of the chemical weapon incidents reported by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry here.