Ukrainian Security Service Accuses Russian Brigade Commander of Chemical Weapons Use

War Crimes Charges Against Russian Colonel Ruslan Nazarenko

According to Главком: The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has compiled evidence of war crimes against Russian Colonel Ruslan Nazarenko, commander of Russia's 136th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the Southern Military District. According to the SBU, Nazarenko ordered the use of prohibited chemical agents during assaults on Vovchansk and two adjacent settlements in the Kharkiv region between September 2024 and June 2025. This case highlights a pattern of alleged chemical weapons use by Russian forces in Ukraine, a tactic banned under international law.

Russian K-51 and RG-Vo aerosol grenades, loaded with toxic irritant agents including CS (chlorobenzylidene malononitrile) and CN (chloroacetophenone), were deployed in combat operations. The use of such weapons is prohibited by the Chemical Weapons Convention, which was signed on January 13, 1993.

Under Nazarenko's command, his subordinates dropped these chemical munitions from quadcopter drones onto Ukrainian defensive positions. As the SBU noted,

"The detonation of these grenades releases toxic compounds that attack human mucous membranes, primarily the eyes and respiratory tract."

The Scale of Chemical Weapons Deployment

During this period, at least 14 drops of the prohibited munitions were carried out. Eight of Nazarenko's subordinates, identified as facilitating and using the chemical agents, have also been implicated. SBU investigators have formally notified Colonel Nazarenko and these eight individuals in absentia of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, pertaining to war crimes. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian authorities have documented over 12,000 instances of the use of dangerous chemical substances.

These events underscore the ongoing severity of chemical weapons use in the conflict. As of January 2026, Russian forces have continued to regularly employ specialized munitions loaded with irritant chemical agents, a practice causing significant concern within the international community.

The deployment of chemical weapons in armed conflict not only violates international norms but also poses grave risks to the health of both civilians and military personnel. In this instance, Colonel Nazarenko's alleged actions point to an escalation in violence and the dangers faced by Ukrainian forces and civilians. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, as the use of chemical weapons represents a serious challenge to global security and human rights.