Russian propagandists are spreading information that the Ukrainian Armed Forces allegedly used Western chemical weapons in Sudzha (Kursk region) in August 2024 under the guise of smoke shells. In reporting this, the propagandists refer to the words of the head of the NBC protection troops Kyryllov.

However, this information is fake, as the Center for Countering Disinformation writes. The Russian side has not provided any real evidence to support its statements. In addition, Ukraine, as a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, strictly complies with its obligations. Also, it is the Russian military and war correspondents who periodically publish videos showing the use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian soldiers, which is a war crime and a violation of international law.

In this case, Russia resorts to the tactics of “reflection” propaganda, accusing Ukraine of a crime that it has repeatedly committed itself. That is, propagandists make the same accusations against Ukraine/USA/EU/the collective West that they make against Russia.

We have previously recorded a number of similar fakes concerning chemical weapons. For example, disinformation that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are allegedly preparing a chemical weapons strike in the Donetsk and Kherson directions.