Russia is probably using phosphorus bombs - intercepted soldiers' phone calls

Created: 05/16/2022, 04:52

By: Tobias Utz, Christian Stör

Ukraine reports a new Russian attack on the Azov steel mill in Mariupol.

This time the army is apparently using prohibited weapons.

+++ 3.45 p.m .:

The Ukrainian secret service has published excerpts of a bugged phone call among Russian soldiers.

As the news portal Kyiv Independent reports, the armed forces speak of the use of phosphorus bombs in the port city of Mariupol: "Phosphorus bombs, cluster munitions - they allowed us to use everything that is forbidden," says a soldier, according to the report in the phone call.

The information cannot be independently verified.

However, the Mariupol city council deputy Petro Andryuschtschenko reported on Telegram on Sunday morning about the use of the phosphorus bombs (see first report).

A Russian soldier in the destroyed theater of Mariupol.

(Archive photo) © Alexander Nemenov/AFP

First report from Sunday, May 15, 10:30 a.m.:

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.

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

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/tu with dpa)