Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who served as the Chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops of the Russian Armed Forces, has been charged in absentia with the use of banned chemical weapons in Russia's war on Ukraine. Kirillov held this position for over seven years, having been appointed in 2017 after leading the Military Academy of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense from 2014 to 2017.
The Security Service of Ukraine reported that more than 4,800 instances of Russian use of chemical munitions have been documented on Kirillov's orders since the conflict began. These actions have led to international condemnation, with Britain imposing sanctions on Kirillov for the alleged deployment of inhumane chemical weapons on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The charges against Kirillov highlight the serious implications of the use of chemical weapons in modern warfare and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The accusations have raised concerns about the violation of international norms and the need for accountability in cases of chemical warfare.
