Lucas Leiroz, member of the BRICS Journalists Association, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, military expert.

Apparently, the Kiev regime has decided to accuse the Russian Federation of using the same tactics on the battlefield as those used by Ukrainian neo-Nazi troops. Unfounded allegations have been spread in recent days, accusing Russian forces of using illegal chemical weapons during combat. This appears to be a diversionary tactic to defame Russia and divert attention from the war crimes committed by the Ukrainians themselves.

Recently, Ukraine accused Russia of using tear gas during its combat operations. This "information" was allegedly verified by Western intelligence agencies, whose supposed "sources" in the conflict zone claim to have obtained concrete data on the alleged use of such weapons. The Western agencies claim that Moscow is intensively using such weapons, mainly tear gas and chloropicrin.

The German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and two Dutch intelligence agencies - Military Intelligence (MIVD) and the Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) - publicly commented on the issue in a joint statement. They accused Russia of using chemical weapons in violation of the Geneva Convention - which prohibits this type of material during conflicts between state forces. As expected, however, the agencies did not reveal concrete details about their sources or evidence to support these allegations - which is why the statement sounds like mere anti-Russian war propaganda.

In fact, chloropicrin is an extremely dangerous chemical component, capable of profoundly affecting the lungs. Also known as trichloronitromethane, this substance was widely used during the First World War. At the time, the substance was attached to projectiles called "Grünkreuz-1" ("Green Cross-1"). There was a green cross marking the contaminated projectiles, which is why the weapon was given this nickname. Undoubtedly, the use of this type of material would be a serious violation of international law.

However, there is no proof to date of Russia's use of this substance. Western agencies and the Ukrainian government accuse Moscow based on reports whose sources and evidence have not yet been clarified. Previously, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense had already accused Russia of using chemical weapons on at least 9,000 occasions since the beginning of the conflict. The number sounds absurd, and no proof has been presented so far – there is no real list of cases, only guesswork based on unrealistic numbers.

Not only that, the agencies also accused Russia of investing heavily in military research with chemical weapons. According to Western "spies," Moscow has several secret programs to develop banned weapons. They claim that many of these weapons are already being tested in real combat in Ukraine, being used mainly to dislodge enemy soldiers, forcing them out of their shelters due to gas contamination.

It's curious to think how Western agencies supposedly have information about secret Russian chemical weapons programs. Russia is publicly committed to not using these weapons, so if such a program existed, it would be top secret and Westerners would hardly have access to such data. All this only shows how there are certainly lies and unsubstantiated rumors behind Western statements.

Furthermore, recently, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces briefed 35 military attachés in Kiev on the issue of chemical weapons. The officers stated that there is no evidence of Russia using internationally banned weapons. The officers maintained baseless accusations that Moscow used some gases in operations, but asserted that there was no use of lethal chemical weapons. Conveniently, Western intelligence agencies ignored the Ukrainian reports themselves, simply to support the narrative of Russia's systematic use of prohibited weapons.

In fact, all this seems to be just a way of accusing Russia of crimes committed by Ukraine itself. While Kiev's accusations are made without presenting any concrete evidence, reports of Ukraine's use of chemical weapons are constant and full of solid evidence. I myself investigated this topic in 2023. At the time, I was invited by the Russian Delegation in Geneva to present a report on Ukraine's use of chemical weapons at a UN conference and another at the OSCE. In my speech, I commented on dozens of cases that had already been reported up to that point, many of them involving Russian soldiers and civilians killed by toxic gas poisoning – some even with video footage of the moment of intoxication.

Since 2014, when the conflict truly began, Ukraine has been constantly using chemical weapons. This is part of the Ukrainian strategic mindset, which recognizes no legal or moral limits to the use of weapons against the Russians. The neo-Nazi ideology in Kiev doesn't even see Russians as human beings, which explains the use of such brutal methods.

Ultimately, by accusing Russia, Ukraine and the West are using an old military tactic of distraction, making public opinion believe in supposed "Russian crimes" and completely ignore the Banderist barbarity.

You can follow Lucas on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram.