Russians Accused Of Using White Phosphorus Munitions In Civilian Areas

Amid continued bombardment campaigns by the Russian forces in Ukraine, and despite all efforts to establish humanitarian corridors in the country, Russia has been accused by Ukrainian government officials of using white phosphorus bombs in its attacks in major Ukrainian cities as white clouds had allegedly appeared in the skies. Videos of the so-called usage of white phosphorus munitions have surfaced online. However, we could not independently verify these sources.

Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Education and Science Inna Sovsun tweeted a video of an alleged Russian attack using white phosphorus munitions in Popasna, located in the Luhansk region of Ukraine. Sovsun stated that “These are incendiary chemical weapons! This is a crime against humanity! This is forbidden by the Geneva Convention! I’m afraid that civilians will suffer. They will burn alive. #NoFlyZone NOW!”

#russia used white phosphorus munitions in the attack on Popasna in Luhansk region.
These are incendiary chemical weapons!
This is a crime against humanity! This is forbidden by the Geneva Convention!
I'm afraid that civilians will suffer. They will burn alive.#NoFlyZone NOW! pic.twitter.com/TBMHpBtPr1

— Inna Sovsun (@InnaSovsun) March 13, 2022

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The Popasna Head of Police Oleksi Biloshytsky also claimed that the chemical weapon had been used in the city. He claimed that Russia had been using an old Nazi tactic of killing people, a tactic called the ‘flaming onion’ he wrote.

“It’s what the Nazis called a ‘flaming onion,’ and that’s what the Russcists (a combination of the words ‘Russians’ and ‘fascists’) are dropping on our towns. Indescribable suffering and fires,” he said.

Other accounts of white phosphorus have also been reported by Markiyan Lubkivsky, an official from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. He stated that the Russians were using the same tactics they used in Syria, claiming that Putin’s plan is to make Ukrainian cities like Aleppo. His account of the Russians using white phosphorous bombs was in the city of Lutsk in Western Ukraine.

“One more terrible night, more terrible attacks on Ukraine,” he said. “The geography of Putin’s attack is becoming wider. This night Russians attacked Lutsk. Lutsk airport is almost totally demolished. Lutsk is in the western part of Ukraine. Russia uses phosphorus munitions, which are prohibited by international conventions. So, a lot of people are suffering every day, a lot of refugees are trying to get to Poland, to the western border — one more very hard night for Ukraine.”

What Is White Phosphorus?

White phosphorus, also known by the military slang “WP,” “Willie Pete,” and “Willie Peter,” are often used in smoke munitions and incendiary munitions as they have the capability to burn cloth, fuel, and other ammunition as it is considered pyrophoric — which means that it can ignite spontaneously upon contact with air at or below 129 degrees Fahrenheit and can continually burn at 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

This means that it can also burn human skin and bones, effectively burning people alive when they come in direct contact with the weapon. Prolonged exposure to white phosphorus, especially those that have burned through portions of the body, can leave the victim exposed to liver, heart, and kidney damage. However, there are munitions that utilize white phosphorus as a core component in smoke screens with lower levels of the chemical. White phosphorus is also used in fertilizers, additives in food, fireworks, pesticide, and cleaning compounds. Prolonged exposure to its smoke can also irritate the eyes and the respiratory tract, with the chemical being able to burn internally for up to 7 hours.