Brussels: The Council of the European Union is on the verge of implementing a new sanctions regulation that, for the first time, formally accuses Russia of deploying CS gas as a method of warfare on the battlefields of Ukraine. According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the EU's move is supported by two reports from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which were published at the request of Ukraine in November 2024 and February 2025. These reports serve as the foundation for the EU's decision. The sanctions proposal is part of a broader three-package set, with the other two focusing on cyberattacks and Russian destabilization activities in Europe. EU insiders have indicated that a fourth set of sanctions, which will target Russia's shadow fleet, is also in the pipeline. "In light of the seriousness of the situation, in absence of a credible explanation from Russia regarding its widely reported use of riot control agents, and to enhance the global norm against the use of chemic al weapons, the European Union calls for a timely attribution of the proven use of riot control agents as a method of warfare by the OPCW," the explanatory memorandum states. The sanctions list is expected to include Russia's Defense Ministry's Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Defense Troops, as well as the 27th and 33rd scientific research centers, which are believed to be involved in the development and deployment of chemical agents. CS gas, commonly referred to as "Lilac," is known for causing severe irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract, leading to disorientation and potential suffocation. While CS is officially classified as a nonlethal riot control agent and is used by law enforcement in many countries, its application as a weapon is prohibited under Article 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, as EU officials have pointed out. Ukraine's Defense Ministry has reported the discovery of CS gas capsules within Iranian-made Shahed drones, which have been extensively used by Russia in its military operations against Ukraine.