Russia has fired phosphorus bombs on the Azov steel plant in the port city of Mariupol, according to Ukrainian sources. “Hell has come to earth. To Azov steel,” Mariupol city council deputy Petro Andryushchenko wrote today on the Telegram news channel. Such incendiary bombs are ignited by contact with oxygen and cause devastating damage. Their use is prohibited.
Andryushchenko released a video with aerial photos showing a rain of fire falling on the steel mill. Artillery shelling of the industrial zone could also be seen on the unverifiable recordings of unclear origin.
Unclear where photos come from
Andryushchenko published pictures showing inscriptions on bombs. Accordingly, the Russian military is said to have reacted to Ukraine’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC). It is not clear where these photos come from.
The alleged bombs dated May 14 read in Russian: “Kalusha, as requested! Auf Azow-Stahl” and in English “Help Mariupol – Help Azovstal right now” The singer of the band Kalusha Orchestra, which won the ESC, said these words in an appeal on the stage in Turin.
ESC show was not shown
The comments read that the phosphorus bombs were the Russian salute to the ESC victory. Russian media reported the victory that night, but unlike in previous years, state television was not allowed to show the show. Russia is excluded from the ESC because of the war of aggression against Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian sources, around 1,000 military personnel from Mariupol are holed up in the steelworks. They refuse Russian calls to surrender.