According to the AFP news agency, the area near Chasov Yar was fired from Russian positions with two shells that fired small burning balls of white phosphorus.
On the eve of March 15, during the shelling of the city of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk region, shells with white phosphorus flew from Russian positions, report the journalists of the Agence France-Presse who were on the spot.
According to the news agency staff, two shells were fired five minutes apart on uninhabited areas near the town of Chasov Yar.
Witnesses heard the whistling sound of shells and saw the explosions of ammunition, which released small burning balls of white phosphorus.
These balls ignited the vegetation on both sides of the road, the fire area is about the size of a football field.
According to AFP journalists, the nearest houses were 200 meters from the shelled area.
What are phosphorus bombs?
Phosphorus ammunition is a type of incendiary ammunition with white phosphorus or mixtures based on it. The combustion temperature of white phosphorus can reach up to 1300 ° C, while dense white smoke is abundantly emitted.
Burning continues until all the substance has burned out, or the supply of oxygen has ceased. Skin contact with burning white phosphorus causes severe burns. When phosphorus vapor is inhaled, as well as when it enters the gastrointestinal tract, acute poisoning occurs.
Phosphorus bombs in Popasna
The use of phosphorus munitions against the civilian population is prohibited by the Geneva Convention, but their use against the enemy army is not prohibited.
Phosphorus bombs in Irpen
The journalists were unable to confirm whether the target was located in an area controlled by Ukrainian forces.
Representatives of Ukraine have repeatedly accused the Russian Federation of using phosphorus bombs, including against civilians. Moscow, in turn, categorically denies all accusations against it.
Earlier, Focus reported that the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who were in an armored car in the Chasov Yar area, were covered with fragments of prohibited cluster shells.
Recall that, according to journalists, Ukraine asked the United States for cluster bombs that can be dropped on the occupiers from drones.
