Ukraine accuses Russia of using 'white phosphorus bombs' in Luhansk

The Ukrainian authorities condemned on Thursday the death of at least four people, including two children, who died from Russian attacks in the Luhansk region. The Mayor of Irpin claimed the Russians used phosphorus bombs. 

“The Russians attacked the Luhansk region overnight with rockets and phosphorus shelling. There are four dead," confirmed the head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Hadai, in a message posted on the social network Facebook according to Europa Press.

Hadai added that 31 buildings, including 23 houses, were damaged or destroyed over the past 24 hours, adding that the attacks were perpetrated against the localities of Kremina, Lysychansk, Novodruzhesk, Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, and Voivoidivka.

He also specifically mentioned the attack on Rubizhne, a town located in the Luhansk region, claiming that "at around 8 p.m. (local time), the enemy hit a skyscraper in Rubizhne."

"The shell exploded on the fifth floor. Rescue teams have found three dead, including two children," he said, confirming that the attack also caused several fires in the area, including a school and apartments.

"The situation in Rubizhne is very difficult because of active fighting in the city," he said. "The Russians are in agony. They have not been able to penetrate deep, so they have started using heavy weaponry."

 Hadai stressed that the authorities closed a gas pipeline in the area to avoid further risks and added that an oil refinery in Lisichansh has reported a fire after another attack.

Hadai's claims come a day after Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushin claimed that Russian forces had used "phosphorus munitions" in the area, according to the news outlet Heraldo.

Markushin said in a message on Telegram that the use of this weaponry against civilians in a crime against humanity and is a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Russia has so far not responded to the accusations.