In drone footage released by the Ukrainian military, the sky over the town of Bakhmut appeared as if it was raining white phosphorus shells, which fell on the town.
Are phosphorus weapons prohibited?
• White phosphorus weapons are not prohibited, but their use in civilian areas is a war crime.
• These missiles create fires that spread quickly and are difficult to put out, and Russia has already been accused of using them.
What is white phosphorus?
• White phosphorus is a waxy substance that ignites on contact with oxygen, forming glowing columns of smoke upon interaction.
• “Human Rights Watch” warned that the chemical “is known for the seriousness of the injuries it causes”.
• The material burns at 800 degrees Celsius and can cause serious burns to the human body.
• It is a very sticky substance and difficult to remove, it can ignite again when the dressings are removed.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on Twitter that the phosphorus attack targeted “uninhabited areas in Bakhmut with incendiary munitions.”
The special forces command in Kiev added that Russian forces continued to “destroy the city” in eastern Ukraine.
It’s unclear exactly when the alleged attack took place, but footage shared by Ukraine, apparently taken by a reconnaissance drone, shows high-rise buildings on fire.
awful video
Other videos posted on social media platforms showed fires burning on the ground and white clouds of phosphorus lighting up the night sky.
A BBC analysis of the video, released by the Ministry of Defence, identified the footage in an area west of Bakhmut town center near a children’s hospital.
Russia has been accused of using white phosphorus on several occasions since it launched its war on Ukraine last year, including during the siege of Mariupol at the start of the war.
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