Ukraine has documented 465 Russian chemical attacks since the beginning of war

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian Defense Forces have confirmed 465 cases of Russia using ammunition equipped with poisonous chemical substances. 

Rubryka reports, citing the Ukrainian Support Forces Command, that there is a growing trend in chemical attacks. On December 19 alone, Russian forces carried out eight attacks using chemical substances.

Soldiers shared their experiences, stating that the Russians first deploy gas to induce panic, followed by conventional shelling or drone attacks. One soldier recounted, "First, I saw smoke. We ran out of the trench, and suddenly, the gas ignited. The trench was on fire. This gas burns and blinds you, and you can't breathe; it instantly affects the throat. We didn't even have a second."

Speaking anonymously, a Ukrainian intelligence officer revealed that the Russians are using a variant of CS — tear gas, commonly used during mass disturbances, causing temporary incapacitation through eye, nose, lung, and skin irritation.

Eighty-one cases have already been documented in December. The Russians most frequently deploy grenades such as K-51, RGR, and the handheld gas grenade "Drofa-PM," dropped from drones.

Russian troops also use improvised explosive devices laden with irritant substances and conduct artillery shelling with chemical hazardous content.

The Ukrainian Support Forces Command adds that on December 14, Ukrainian fighters identified the use of a new type of special gas grenade, RG-VO, containing an unknown chemical substance.

"28 cases of Russians using hazardous chemical substances have been documented and sent for investigation within a criminal proceeding by the radiation, chemical, and biological reconnaissance groups of military units of the Support Forces Command, in collaboration with the Security Service of Ukraine," said the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Front-line Situation

In the past 24 hours on December 26, Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled 44 Russian attacks on the Avdiivka, Bakhmut, and Mariupol directions, totaling 80 combat engagements with Russian occupiers along the front.

As reported by military command, the Air Defense Forces targeted 17 concentration areas of Russian personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, along with five anti-aircraft missile systems.

The General Staff noted that the tactical aviation of the Air Force successfully attacked the large landing ship "Novocherkassk" of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Missile units also targeted three concentration areas of Russian personnel, weaponry, and military equipment, one command post, two artillery systems, and three other vital targets.

Moreover, on December 26, Defense Forces eliminated around 800 Russian occupiers, bringing the total losses of Russian forces to almost 356,000 soldiers since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

Russian forces likely control a significant part, if not all, of Maryinka, despite the lack of visual confirmation of complete occupation by Russian forces as of December 26.