Ukrainian Army Used Phosphorus Bombs on Civilians – Russian Defense Ministry

Russia says it has evidence that Ukraine used phosphorus bombs on populated areas in the country’s east, the deputy head of operations at Russia’s General Staff said on Friday.

 “Today, we have reliable confirmation that phosphoric ammunition was used in the cities I’ve noted and in populated areas of Ukraine,” Maj.Gen. Viktor Poznikhir said on Rossiya-24 television.

He said that confirmation comes from the characteristic signs of using phosphoric ammunition.

 “This is the high-speed descent as opposed to star shells that give out bright burning elements over a large area that look like raining sparks that create large fires in the areas they fall in and have a high burning temperature,” he said.

Poznikhir added that the Ukrainian army used phosphorous bombs in eastern Ukraine at least six times.

 “Russian Defense Ministry has carefully studied the existing information on numerous cases of phosphorous and cluster bombs being used by the Ukrainian Army against civilians,” he added.

According to Viktor Poznikhir, the Defense Ministry of Russian Federation is aware of the following cases of phosphorous bombs being used by the Ukrainian Army: the shelling of the city of Slaviansk on June 12; phosphorous bombs being used by the Ukrainian air forces on Slaviansk and Kramatorsk on June 21; the shieling of Semenivka using phosphorous and cluster bombs on June 24; the shieling of Semenivka on June 29; the shieling of Lisichansk on July 7, phosphorous bombs being used by Ukrainian air forces on Donetsk on July 23.

Chief Surgeon of the Armed Forces of Russian Federation Nikolai Efimenko said that use of phosphorous bombs may have irreversible consequences on people and may also have a negative impact on environment. Phosphorous poisoning may cause serious illnesses and even lead to death.

Since Kiev launched special military operation against independence supporters in eastern Ukraine in April, hundreds of people, including civilians and journalists on professional duty have died in the region.

Last month, Moscow officials said that they may submit an inquest to the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the possible use of chemical weapons in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Security Service earlier confirmed that an unknown substance was found in the burnt building in Odessa, after the May 2 tragedy. Although Kiev officials insist most of the victims died of smoke inhalation or were killed when jumping out of windows, media reports suggest that many of the dead were poisoned by an unknown toxic chemical.

In June, the independence supporters’ representatives said unidentified chemical weapons have been used by the Ukrainian army in an attack on the village of Semenivka near Slaviansk in Ukraine’s east. Local militia leaders argued people showing symptoms of chlorine poisoning had been admitted to local hospitals.

Moscow has described the ongoing military action as a punitive operation and has repeatedly called on Kiev to resolve the conflict through peaceful dialogue.

Russian rights activists urge EU, warring sides to help move children from Ukraine’s East

Meanwhile, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Ella Pamfilova and head of the nonprofit group Spravedlivaya Pomoshch (Fair Aid) Elizaveta Glinka have urged the international community and the warring sides of the Ukrainian conflict to assist in ensuring humanitarian corridors for the transfer of hundreds of ill children caught in the conflict to Russian hospitals.

 “At our request the Russian side is ready to provide transport for the transfer of children to medical facilities in a number of Russian cities, which have all the necessary equipment for medical treatment,” an address to the leaders of the European Union, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the leadership of Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics and international human rights organizations obtained by RIA Novosti reads.

The statement said that according to human rights activists, hundreds of children in need of emergency medical treatment and safety are currently stuck in the conflict zone.

 “Among them are children who sustained injuries, insulin-dependent, disabled and children with cancer and other serious diseases. Every hour counts to save the lives of some of these children,” Pamfilova and Glinka elaborated.

The human rights activists called on all the parties concerned to compile lists of children who need emergency medical treatment indicating their exact location and possibilities of their transfer to Russian medical facilities.

 “We call on all the warring sides to immediately ensure safe corridors for the transfer of children to Russia’s medical facilities. We are urging the leaders of European countries, the OSCE, humanitarian organizations, in particular the International Committee of the Red Cross to act as guarantors of the implementation of this campaign,” the statement said.

The document added that the Russian side was ready to provide qualified medical personnel and volunteers to assist in the transfer and also create all necessary conditions for the treatment of children and the accommodation of their parents.

RIA Novosti

R.S