Ukraine claimed that Russian troops used phosphorus munitions, banned by the Geneva Convention, in an overnight attack on the town of Popasna.
Serhiy Haidai, head of Luhansk Regional State Administration, said in a Facebook post that "Russian war criminals" used phosphorous munitions in Popasna. “War criminals, the Russian troops, used phosphorous munitions in Popasna. Destructive, devastating, and ugly force.”
"According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ignited phosphorus burns at temperatures above 800 degrees Celsius, and fires can spread over large areas, up to several hundred square kilometers. The use of such weapons can cause very severe and painful injuries or lead to a slow painful death. Additional Protocols to the 1977 Geneva Convention prohibit the use of white phosphorus munitions if they endanger civilians, the translated Facebook post read.
She shared a video of the alleged attack, but hasn't said Ukrane has concrete evidence to substantiate this claim.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy said nearly 125,000 civilians have been evacuated through safe-passage corridors so far, and a convoy with humanitarian aid is headed to the besieged city of Mariupol.
"We have already evacuated almost 125,000 people to the safe territory through humanitarian corridors," Zelenskyy said in a video address released Sunday. "The main task today is Mariupol. Our convoy with humanitarian aid is two hours away from Mariupol. Only 80km (left).”
"We are doing everything to counter occupiers who are even blocking Orthodox priests accompanying this aid, food, water and medicine. There are 100 tons of the most necessary things that Ukraine sent to its citizens,"Zelenskyy said.
—With PTI inputs
