Russia has once again failed to secure a seat on the executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

The Russian Federation has lost its seat on the executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the second consecutive year.

During the 29th Conference of State Parties to the Organization, a vote was held in which the Russian Federation received only 56 votes, while the Czech Republic received 128 votes, and the Republic of North Macedonia received 86 votes. Thus, the Czech Republic and the Republic of North Macedonia were elected to the executive council of the OPCW for the next three-month period from 2025 to 2027, according to Ukrinform.

According to Oleksandr Karasevich, Ukraine's permanent representative to the OPCW, the results of the voting indicate that the Russian Federation has no moral right to participate in the work of international organizations. He added that the global non-proliferation and disarmament system, which prohibits the use of chemical weapons, is of great importance for international security and stability, but this system is currently under threat due to the actions of certain states, particularly Russia. Therefore, the Organization's clear position regarding Russia is particularly important, the Ukrainian representative noted.

Karasevich also stated that Russia is using special munitions with hazardous chemical substances during its war against Ukraine, alongside conventional weapons. Over the past year, from February 17, 2023, to November 25, 2024, there have been 4950 recorded instances of such munitions being used.

As a result, more than two thousand military personnel have sought medical assistance for symptoms of chemical poisoning, and there have also been three fatalities due to acute poisoning from an unknown chemical substance.