Ukraine has accused Russia of conducting a phosphorus munitions strike on the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, labelling the attack a war crime.
Officials state that civilians are still present in the city, which is located in Donetsk Oblast, despite ongoing fighting in the surrounding region.
According to Ukrainian authorities, pilots from the Phoenix border unit captured footage of the aftermath of the alleged strike, which they claim shows the use of phosphorus-based munitions. However, this footage has not yet been independently verified.
“Another war crime by Russia was recorded by border guards of the ‘Phoenix’ unit in Kostiantynivka,” the State Border Guard Service reported on Telegram on Friday.
“Residential quarters of long-suffering Kostiantynivka. Civilians of the city are still here. Despite this, the enemy ruthlessly struck civilians with phosphorus—a prohibited substance that causes severe health consequences,” the ‘Phoenix’ unit noted.
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The legal implications surrounding the use of white phosphorus in civilian areas are highly controversial. While its use is not universally banned, employing it against civilian populations or in densely populated regions can be a violation of international humanitarian law. Ukraine has consistently accused Russia of using prohibited or indiscriminate weapons since the onset of the Russian invasion.
Moscow has previously denied similar accusations. Kostiantynivka is situated near active combat zones in eastern Ukraine and has faced repeated shelling and aerial attacks. Both sides are accusing each other of targeting civilian infrastructure as the fighting intensifies across parts of Donetsk.
There was no immediate comment from Russian authorities regarding the latest accusation. Independent verification of battlefield claims remains challenging due to restricted access and ongoing hostilities.
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