Russia used overwhelming artillery superiority and white phosphorus munitions to seize control over Sievierodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast in 2022, said a Ukrainian 3rd Special Operations Forces Regiment soldier, known by the callsign Vorobey in the latest interview, ArmyInform reports.
Under Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the use of white phosphorus is prohibited against military targets located within concentrations of civilians. At the start of the war, Sievierodonetsk had a population on nearly 100,000 people. Russia wanted to seize the city because to disrupt Ukrainian logistics and enable further advances into Ukraine.
White phosphorus ignites spontaneously upon contact with air. When released it burns fiercely at temperatures around 815°C. It sticks to skin and clothing, causing thermal and chemical burns that can penetrate down to the bone. Its extinguishing is extremely difficult because it continues to burn as long as it is exposed to oxygen.
“They knew that in close combat, they’re much weaker,” explained Vorobey, explaining the Russian tactics.
Instead, Russian forces relied on artillery and armored vehicles to level everything in their path.
Russia has repeatedly employed scorched earth tactics in its wars against other countries. It involves the deliberate destruction of infrastructure, settlements, and natural resources to stop its enemy force from advancing and to terrorize civilian populations.
“The first line of buildings, when it starts to collapse, you have to fall back a little. They just dumped phosphorus on us, burning everything," he recalled.
At the beginning of the battle, when the bridges were still intact, Ukrainian operators would “fly in” on light armored vehicles and clear the streets. Later, when the connections were destroyed, they had to cross the river on rafts and hold the industrial zone.
Vorobey is confident that Ukrainian defenders were capable of holding out longer.
“We had everything. We had water, food, and ammo. We could have held ‘Sever’ for another month,” he said.
However, due to intense pressure on the flanks, Ukrainian forces had to withdraw to preserve their personnel.
Currently, Russia's reliance on massed artillery has sharply declined due to Ukrainian countermeasures and Russia’s own shift toward drone warfare. Drones now play a central role in Russian tactics, with artillery use becoming more precise and less frequent.
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