Ukraine soldiers describe ‘almost daily’ illegal gas attacks as invaders seek to dislodge them from embedded positions
Russia has been accused of systematically using illegal chemical gas attacks against Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukrainian troops told the Daily Telegraph that they have been subjected to regular attacks from small drones dropping teargas and other chemicals.
The use of such substances, which is known as CS, is banned during wartime under the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Moscow was accused of using chemical weapons in a drone assault on the port of Mariupol in the early stages of its invasion in February 2022.
Difference in usage. Tear gas, in a policing context, is meant to be an alternative to lethal force. Tear gas, in a military context, is meant as an enabler of lethal force - ie one makes you suffer so they don’t have to kill you, the other makes you suffer because suffering makes it easier to kill you.
Also why the Russians have so much of it - it’s legal for usage in civilian contexts.
See my other comment because i’m not retyping all that shit, but the main issue is the risk of escalation inherent when using chemical weapons regardless of lethality.
The only reason Russia is using CS on Ukrainian positions is because Ukraine doesn’t have Vx stockpiles, and Russia knows no one is going to give them Vx. The same goes for protestors. If cops knew that protestors might start chucking Vx over the line they’d be way more judicious in their use of CS.
Your other comment was very informative, but this insight increased my understanding of the situation even more.