Ukrainian authorities claim on Sunday that the Russians have used phosphorus bombs in attacks in eastern Ukraine. According to the governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Haidai, the bombs were aimed at targets in the town of Popasna.
– This is what the racists are now letting go of in our cities. Incredible suffering and fires, writes Haidai on Facebook.
The governor has published photos that are supposed to show phosphorus ammunition exploding over the city.
ATTACK: The picture will show attacks with phosphorus bombs in the Luhansk region until Sunday night. Photo: Private
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The allegation is also made by Police Chief Oleksiy Biloshytsky and Human Rights Representative Liudmila Denisova.
“Bombing civilian targets with these weapons is a war crime and a crime against humanity,” Denisova wrote in a statement, according to Reuters.
The use of weapons has not been verified by independent sources.
Phosphorus bombs are primarily used by the military to hide traces during ground operations, as the bombs immediately create thick, white smoke. The bombs can also be used to start fires.
They cause extreme burns and charring if they hit people.
– Used in Syria
War captain and head teacher at the Staff School in the Norwegian Armed Forces, Thomas Slensvik, tells Dagbladet that the grenades are blown at a certain height above the target, so that phosphorus is spread outwards and “rains” down on the target area.
– Phosphorus grenades have been used in several wars, evidently including in the civil war in Syria. One of the challenges with weapons that use phosphorus is that some are pure “firebombs”. Some grenades use phosphorus to take advantage of the burning effect, while other weapons can use phosphorus to create clouds of smoke that they can cover behind.
– PROHIBITED: War captain at the Staff School, Thomas Slensvik, tells Dagbladet that phosphorus bombs are considered banned in war according to the UN weapons convention. Photo: The Armed Forces
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– Disputed
Slensvik then says that the rules regarding the use of phosphorus have been discussed, but that most people will recognize this type of artillery shells that seem to have been used, as a firearm, regulated by protocol 3 in the UN weapons convention, a protocol that the Russians have also signed .
– Then it is forbidden to use such weapons in areas where there may be civilians. The rules are thus stricter for use, than the more well-known “principle of proportionality”, where some civilian consequential damage is accepted if the military benefits have been assessed and found acceptable in accordance with international humanitarian law.
The war captain is supported by human rights organizations who also believe that such weapons are so dangerous that they should not be used against soldiers in war.
It is allowed to use them in open landscapes, including as cover for soldiers.
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