Russia could step up chemical attacks in Ukraine, warns expert

An expert has warned Russia could use “horrific” chemical weapons in Ukraine, urging the international community to condemn their use. 

The Kremlin says it does not have any intention to use chemical weapons.

On Sunday, Russia was accused of using phosphorus on the besieged city of Bakhmut, with Ukraine releasing footage purporting to show it raining down on its positions.

While phosphorus is not classified as a chemical weapon in international law, its use against civilian areas is considered a war crime under the Geneva Convention because of its "indiscriminate" and "traumatic effects".

Phosphorus creates flash fires that are incredibly hard to put out. If people are hit with the chemical they suffer horrendous burns, which actually accelerate if they come into contact with water.

It can, however, be legitimately used by military forces for night illumination and smoke screens.

Despite being an “absolutely horrific weapon”, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a British chemical weapons expert, says from a military perspective it can be “incredibly successful” on the battlefield.

“It was a favourite weapon of the Syrian regime,” he explained. “It was used to burn whole towns and villages in the northwest “like some sort of mediaeval scorched earth policy.”

White phosphorus bombs were allegedly used by Syrian government forces working alongside Russian General Sergei Surovikin, as part of Moscow’s 2015 military intervention to save the country's embattled leader Bashar al-Assad from rebels.

After commanding Russian forces in the Syrian Civil War, Surovikin, known as General Amaggedon, is now in charge of troops in Ukraine.

“What the Russians and the Syrians found is that you can fight conventionally in towns and cities, but you only get