Recently released drone footage shows the effects of what is most likely 9M22S Grad Missiles from Russian forces. This video is being misconstrued in multiple places as the effects of White Phosphorus munitions, but that is not the case.

The signature of the weapon system is the major tell here. When WP rounds are used, there's a significant smoke pattern that is not present in this video. The reason white phosphorous causes smoke is because the agent, when exposed to oxygen, self ignites. In this video, we're not seeing that effect. Instead, the signature is more in line with that of aluminum and iron oxide, better known as thermite. These weapon systems are often encased in magnesium, which is a metal that burns at an extreme heat when exposed to thermite.

These are of course, simplifications. I am not a chemist, a scientist, or even an explosives expert. I'm a guy who's seen WP used in controlled conditions, and a guy who's used thermite to destroy a mine-roller we had to abandon in the mountains of Afghanistan, that's all. I'm sure someone down in the comments section can make better sense of the above paragraph, so make sure you go check those if you're still confused.

About the Author

Josh Brooks

Josh is an American writer and former USMC machine gunner with eight years of experience in ground combat arms throughout the GWOT. He is currently based in Texas and specializes in combat footage analysis and digital marketing.Follow Josh at OfficialJoshBrooks.com