Frank Gardner

The accusations against General Kirillov are multiple and serious. As well as spreading disinformation, he was accused by Ukraine and its Western allies of ordering the mass use of a particularly unpleasant toxic chemical agent against Ukrainian troops in the Donbass.

The accusations against General Kirillov are multiple and serious. As well as spreading disinformation, he was accused by Ukraine and its Western allies of ordering the mass use of a particularly unpleasant toxic chemical agent against Ukrainian troops in the Donbass.

Chloropicrin is a rock control gas that causes intense irritation and pain in the eyes and lungs, forcing troops out of their trenches into the open, where they can then be picked off by drones and artillery fire. Its use in warfare is banned under Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Russia has signed.

Chloropicrin is a rock control gas that causes intense irritation and pain in the eyes and lungs, forcing troops out of their trenches into the open, where they can then be picked off by drones and artillery fire. Its use in warfare is banned under Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, which Russia has signed.

But Ukraine says it has evidence that Russian troops have used it on nearly 5,000 occasions. As the commander of Russia's radiological, chemical and biological forces, General Kirillov was already sanctioned by Britain for his alleged role in ordering the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine. Russia denies it has used them.

But Ukraine says it has evidence that Russian troops have used it on nearly 5,000 occasions. As the commander of Russia's radiological, chemical and biological forces, General Kirillov was already sanctioned by Britain for his alleged role in ordering the use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine. Russia denies it has used them.