By Anthony Deutsch THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Ukraine asked the global chemical weapons watchdog in The Hague on Tuesday to investigate the alleged use of banned toxic munitions by Russia against its forces.

Russia denies using the weapons, as does Ukraine; International body says previous accusations not “substantiated.”

Ukraine submitted its request after Dutch and German intelligence services said on July 4 that they had evidence of Russia’s wide-scale use of illegal chemical weapons along the front line. OPCW head Fernando Arias said the organization would intensify its monitoring efforts in relation to the Russo–Ukrainian war.