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Telegraph investigation reveals those on front line are being exposed to gases banned during wartime
Russian troops are carrying out a systematic campaign of illegal chemical attacks against Ukrainian soldiers, according to a Telegraph investigation.
The Telegraph spoke to a number of Ukrainian soldiers deployed in positions across the front line who detailed how their positions have been coming under near daily attacks from small drones, mainly dropping tear gas but also other chemicals.
The use of such gas, which is known as CS and commonly used by riot police, is banned during wartime under the Chemical WeaponsConvention.
Ihor, the commander of a Ukrainian reconnaissance team who is deployed near the front line city of Chasiv Yar, in Donetsk Oblast, told The Telegraph: “Nearly every position in our area of the front was getting one or two gas grenades dropped on them a day.”
What good is the law if it is not enforced?
They are enforced after a war or if Russia decides to punish them. Or the UN could do something but Russia can veto.
Instead of laws, think of them as suggestions.
Good tip, applies to all laws
It’s a convention, not a law. States still have to pass laws to turn those into actually enforceable laws, called ratification (as opposed to mere signing which doesn’t really mean much but moral support from the state’s executive). And then it has to enforce those laws, also, not feel like breaking them.
The enforcement mechanism the international community has against states doing such things is to shitcan them. But Russia’s in there anyway and nobody is going to escalate militarily over CS gas and it’s not like Ukraine could counter-attack with ABC weapons if they wanted to, so… that leaves non-military escalation. Which includes sending Ukraine more weapons, of course. In a sense you should thank the Russians for giving Ukraine yet another good argument, the military efficacy of CS gas certainly doesn’t cover the cost using it could incur for the Russians.
Is it really worth going to war over if a law could stop you from doing something?