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Russian Troops Deploy Banned White Phosphorus Munitions Over Donetsk Region
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Russian forces have used prohibited phosphorus munitions against the town of Kostiantynivka in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, according to Ukraine’s “Khyzhak” brigade of the Patrol Police Department.
The unit reported the incident on Facebook on June 3 and released corresponding drone footage
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According to the statement, aerial reconnaissance operators from the “Khyzhak” brigade documented what they described as a war crime. The footage, recorded by a UAV operator with the call sign “Avrora,” shows dozens of burning phosphorus elements falling over residential areas of the city.
The military noted that white phosphorus ignites upon contact with oxygen and burns at extremely high temperatures, causing widespread fires and posing a severe risk to human life.
Separately, in November 2025, Russian forces have adapted a “Molniya” strike drone to carry a yellow phosphorus payload against Ukrainian positions, according to the Ukrainian analytical group Vodogray.
The group published video footage said to show an aerial munition detonating on impact, producing intense flames and dense white smoke consistent with phosphorus-based incendiary substances.
Researchers suggest the material may have been repurposed from 120 mm 3D5 mortar rounds, which are normally intended for smoke generation and screening.
According to Vodogray, the modification points to ongoing efforts by Russian forces to modify standard ammunition in order to increase its effectiveness in trench combat.
Yellow phosphorus, which shares properties with white phosphorus, is highly flammable and toxic, and can cause severe burns and rapid-spreading fires when exposed to air.
Overall, since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, Russia has used munitions containing hazardous chemical substances against Ukrainian forces more than 13,300 times, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
The ministry said that while such incidents were described as “sporadic” in 2023, the frequency of chemical-related attacks rose markedly from 2024 onwards.
It added that during the first half of 2026, the use of chemical munitions has remained consistently high along the entire frontline.
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