Russia drops 'phosphorus bombs' on Mariupol 'Raining death'

RUSSIA has used incendiary bombs which can cause "excruciating burns, sometime to the bone" on a steel plant in Mariupol.

Footage shows Russian soldiers firing thermite-based munitions over the Azovstal steel plant in the southern port city of Mariupol in Ukraine. The highly incendiary missiles are seen raining down on the plant, where hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers are hiding underground. While the use of air-dropped thermite-based missiles has been banned by the United Nations, Russia has explored a loophole which permits their use - if fired from the ground.

Described by one social media user as “raining death”, the thermite-based bombs can cause excruciating burns, sometimes to the bone, ... respiratory damage, infection, shock, and organ failure", according to the Human Rights Watch group.

The footage uncovers the considerable lengths Russian forces have gone to destroy the Azovstal plant in Mariupol and unearth the several hundred sheltering fighters, believed to be part of the Azov battalion.

The video was originally published by the pro-Russian separatist Alexander Khodakovsky, a commander of the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, on Telegram.

Khodakovsky, in a message alongside the video, said: "If you didn't know what it is and for what purpose - you could say that it's even beautiful.”

The Ukrainian military said there was no let-up on Sunday in Russia's bombardment of the steel works in the southern port.

Plumes of smoke billow from the steel plant in the video as the burning bombs destroy the area.

It then shows Russian soldiers firing the munitions, packed into a 9M22S rocket launched from BM-21 Grad truck-mounted rocket launcher systems.

Ukraine claimed that all civilians were evacuated from the plant last week before Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9.