'Hell on Earth': Russia fires phosphorus bombs at steelworks in Mariupol
Created: 05/15/2022, 10:42 am
By: Christian Stör
Russian troops are said to have attacked the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol with phosphorus bombs - here during Russian shelling on May 7th.
© Alexei Alexandrov/dpa
Ukraine reports a new Russian attack on the Azov steel mill in Mariupol.
This time the army is apparently using prohibited weapons.
Mariupol - The Azov steelworks in Mariupol has been heavily contested for weeks.
Now the situation seems to be escalating.
According to Ukrainian sources, Russia fired phosphorus bombs at the factory in the port city.
“Hell has come to earth.
To Azovstal,” Mariupol city council deputy Petro Andryushchenko wrote on the Telegram news channel.
Such incendiary bombs are ignited by contact with oxygen and cause devastating damage.
Their use is prohibited.
Andryushchenko released a video with aerial photos showing a rain of fire falling on the steel mill.
Artillery shelling of the industrial zone could also be seen on the initially unverifiable recordings of unclear origin.
Mariupol: Phosphorus bombs in reaction to Ukraine's ESC victory?
Andryushchenko also published pictures showing inscriptions on the bombs.
Accordingly, the Russian military is said to have reacted by attacking Ukraine's victory in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC).
It was initially not clear where these photos came from.
The alleged bombs read in Russian: "Kalusha, as requested!
Auf Azovstal' and in English 'Help Mariupol - Help Azovstal right now', dated 14 May.
The singer of the band Kalusha Orchestra, which won the ESC, said these words in an appeal on the stage in Turin.
Hate comments read that the phosphorus bombs were the Russian salute to the ESC victory.
Russian media reported on the ESC and Ukraine's victory, but unlike in previous years, state television was not allowed to show the show.
Russia was not allowed to take part in the ESC because of the war of aggression against Ukraine.
Mariupol: Around 1,000 fighters hold position in the Azov steelworks
According to Ukrainian sources, around 1,000 defenders are still holed up in the steelworks.
They categorically reject calls to surrender.
With regard to the shelling of the steelworks, the Russian hate comments also read that the fighters had now had enough time to get out of the industrial zone.
The Ukrainian government has said it will do everything it can to save Mariupol's defenders.
(cs/dpa)
