The United Kingdom has taken significant steps against Russia due to claims that Russian forces have been using illegal and harmful chemical weapons in the ongoing war with Ukraine. The UK government announced that it would impose sanctions on a key part of Russia’s military,

Amongst the compounds allegedly used against Ukraine is chloropicrin, a toxic choking agent first deployed on the battlefields of WW1. It can enter the body through the skin, bypassing gas masks, and induce vomiting as well as severe internal organ damage.

"The American administration should critically consider what is happening and the possible risks," the Russian Embassy told Newsweek.