Radio Liberty’s mission Skhemy (Schemes) writes that among the many Russian navy formations using the most recent RG-Vo gasoline grenades towards Ukrainian forces are two motorised rifle brigades, separate UAV models, and the Russian Nationwide Guard.
Supply: Radio Liberty’s mission Skhemy
Particulars: Journalists have found which Russian navy models have the most recent RG-Vo gasoline grenades of their arsenal and are utilizing them towards Ukrainian troops, in violation of worldwide agreements prohibiting the usage of chemical weapons, in addition to the legal guidelines and customs of struggle.
One instance is the 114th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade. Its troopers dropped chemical grenades on the shelters of Ukrainian troopers, in line with a video broadcast on Russian state tv on 28 Could 2024. It acknowledged that in this chemical assault, the unit's assault troops allegedly killed 17 and wounded 35 Ukrainian troopers.
Investigative journalists have established that the 136th Motorised Rifle Brigade can also be utilizing chemical grenades which can be banned on the battlefield. That is evident from correspondence by which Russian servicemen reported utilizing RG-Vo gasoline grenades and ordering further batches within the spring and summer season of 2025.
Details about this communication on the Vovchansk and Kupiansk fronts was obtained by the Kharkiv Workplace of the Safety Service of Ukraine by way of its spy networks.
Among the many interlocutors who correspond below pseudonyms, Skhemy journalists recognized Dmitry Novichikhin. He was the person who mentioned the availability of chemical grenades with the Russian 136th Brigade.
In March 2022, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported his affiliation with this unit. The company famous that at the beginning of the full-scale struggle, he was 20 years outdated and served as a senior radio operator. From the context of his posts this yr, it seems that he might now be a specialist in logistics, together with chemical grenades.
As Skhemy has established, the Russian Guard can also use gasoline grenades which can be prohibited by the legal guidelines and customs of struggle. Info from Russian tax databases reveals that the Institute of Utilized Chemistry, which manufactures RG-Vo gasoline grenades, is a long-standing provider to the Russian Guard. In October 2023, the unit's press service revealed a video displaying one in every of its servicemen utilizing thermite-incendiary grenades much like the chemical RG-Vo grenades from the identical producer, the Institute of Utilized Chemistry.
Journalists identify one other unit which will have acquired RG-Vo grenades from this producer – the Central Navy Chemical Coaching Floor in Saratov Oblast, also referred to as navy unit 42734. This was established by the Principal Investigation Division of the Safety Service of Ukraine. {A photograph} of packing containers of gasoline grenades and customs knowledge point out that the Institute of Utilized Chemistry despatched this cargo to the coaching floor close to Saratov on the request of the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The Skhemy investigation, citing SSU knowledge, states that RG-Vo gasoline grenades are being transferred to unmanned methods models preventing towards Ukraine, specifically by way of this navy unit.
The Skhemy investigation additionally revealed that Russian arms producer Scientific Analysis Institute of Utilized Chemistry receives parts for RG-Vo chemical grenades, that are prohibited below worldwide legislation, from two Russian firms, which, regardless of their cooperation with a sanctioned defence firm, are themselves not but topic to Western financial restrictions.
For reference: The usage of poisonous chemical compounds is prohibited not solely by the Conference on the Prohibition of the Use of Chemical Weapons, which Russia has signed, but in addition by the Geneva Conference. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian navy has repeatedly reported the usage of chemical weapons by the Russian Federation towards Ukrainian forces.
Background:
- In Could 2025, the European Union imposed sanctions on three Russian navy models concerned within the growth and use of chemical weapons.
- In July, Kaja Kallas, the European Union's high diplomat, stated that Russia was stepping up its use of chemical weapons within the struggle towards Ukraine in an try and power the nation to give up.
Learn additionally: Russia began using chemical weapons back in 2014–2015, says Anton Honchar, Chief Specialist of the Ukrainian Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Forces
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