SNAKE ISLAND HAS BEEN STRUCK BY RUSSIAN PHOSPHORUS BOMBS, UKRAINE CLAIMS

Sat 02 July 2022:

Ukraine accused Russia on Friday of firing phosphorus bombs on Snake Island, according to media reports.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny said Russia carried out air strikes and dropped phosphorus bombs on the island, according to the Ukrainian national news agency, Ukrinform.

“The leadership of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation does not even adhere to its own statements, which declare a ‘gesture of goodwill.’ Today, at around 18:00, from the Belbek airfield, two Su-30 aircraft of the Air Force of the Russian Federation twice launched air strikes using phosphorus bombs on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, where they allegedly ‘completed their tasks,’” Zaluzhny said on Telegram.

New satellite imagery taken this morning shows smoke coming from the contested Snake Island (45.255721, 30.204173) which Russia announced its withdrawal from today: https://t.co/zeXogu20Bt. 📸 @Maxar pic.twitter.com/OyWc3Shf0n

— Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown) June 30, 2022

He said everyone who talks about agreements with Moscow should know the facts.

Phosphorus weapons, which leave a signature white trail in the sky, are incendiary weapons whose use against civilians is banned under an international convention but allowed for military targets.

Ukraine has accused Russia of using them several times since it invaded its neighbour in late February, including on civilian areas, allegations Moscow has denied.

Ukraine claimed the Russians were forced to retreat from the island after coming under a barrage of artillery and missile fire.

Snake Island became famous after a radio exchange went viral at the start of the war, in which Ukrainian soldiers respond “go f*ck yourself” to a Russian warship that called on them to surrender.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent