Reuters: Ukraine says Russia is using tear gas to clear out trenches
Russian forces are throwing tear gas grenades at Ukrainian infantry to drive them away from the front lines toward their trenches, a move that leaves soldiers, who are often not equipped with masks, in a deadly situation.
A Ukrainian soldier told Reuters that it’s something like pepper spray, making your eyes tear up. It’s not lethal, but it irritates and incapacitates you. Performing duties after inhaling this gas is very difficult.
The Ukrainian military says that Russia has increased the illegal use of riot control tools in the trenches to clear them out. This is despite the international Chemical Weapons Convention, signed by both Russia and Ukraine, which prohibits the use of riot control agents like tear gas on the battlefield.