ISLAND ‘TARGETED WITH INCENDIARIES’

Ukraine’s army accused Russia of carrying out strikes using incendiary phosphorus munitions on Snake Island on Friday, just a day after Moscow withdrew its forces from the rocky outcrop in the Black Sea.

“Russian air force SU-30 planes twice conducted strikes with phosphorus bombs on Zmiinyi island,” it said, using another name for Snake Island.

The Russian defence ministry on Thursday had described the pullback as “a gesture of goodwill” meant to demonstrate that Moscow would not interfere with UN efforts to organise protected grain exports from Ukraine.

But the Ukrainian army accused the Russians of being unable to “respect even their own declarations”.

Its statement was accompanied by a video that showed a plane drop munitions at least twice on the island, and what appeared to be white streaks rising above it.

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 in late February, including on civilian areas. Moscow has denied the allegations.

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 responded to a Russian warship that was calling on them to surrender by telling the ship “go f*** yourself”.