Ukraine have denounced that the Russian army has used white phosphorous bombs, a illegal chemical weapon under the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, near Irpin and Hostomel, in the metropolitan area of Kiev.
“The Russian invaders used banned phosphorus in the northwestern suburbs of kyiv,” Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn said on his Telegram channel. “The approximate area where destruction was caused was Hostomel-Irpin,” he added in his message, accompanied by photos that appear to show a cluster of sparks falling from the night sky, the Ukrinform news agency reported.
The mayor of the town, in which fighting has been taking place practically since the start of the Russian attack on February 24, stressed that the use of white phosphorous “is a crime against humanity and a violation of Geneva Convention of 1949″.
What is it?
White phosphorus is a allotropica chemical element that is used in the chemical industry and as incendiary agent. White phosphorus bombs are made with it, known in military parlance as WP, White Phosphorus
These have already been used in other wars, such as the one in Vietnam, where they were popularly called Willie Peter.
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The product is a whitish or yellow semi-viscous element with a garlic-like odor. It burns easily on contact with oxygen and forms a dense white smoke screen which conceals troop movements. The use of these pumps is internationally accepted for this function, but not to launch them on the civilian populationsince incandescent phosphor particles produce deep burns.
In 1993, a treaty to control this type of weapon was approved in the Chemical Weapons Convention, it has been in force since 1997. A total of 193 nations have ratified the treaty, among them are Russia and United States.