- Ukraine says a new video shows the moment their forces destroyed a Russian thermobaric weapon launcher.
- The launcher was located in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine as Russia mounts a new offensive push.
Ukrainian forces released a video Wednesday reportedly showing the destruction of a Russian thermobaric weapons rocket launcher in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
The video was shared on Telegram by Ukraine and Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration. The attack comes as Russia is reportedly mounting a new offensive on Ukraine's border.
"The 72 Brigade... have fried a Russian 'SoIntsepiok,' Yermak wrote in the video's caption, referring to the Russian rocket launcher, per CNN's translation. "Nice picture."
The destroyed launcher was a TOS-1 or TOS-1A, a multiple rocket system capable of launching thermobaric weapons. Ukrainian forces reported that the launcher was located in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, south of Kharkiv, according to CNN.
The bombs — sometimes referred to as vacuum bombs — are considered especially dangerous because of their potential for indiscriminate use.
Their function features a two-stage munition, which involves dispersing a cloud of fuel into the air before detonating the cloud, creating an intense blast wave. According to a 1993 CIA study, even if the second state fails, the first stage can still be deadly, as victims will inhale burning fuel.
At the beginning of Russia's invasion, Ukraine's ambassador to the US accused Russia of using thermobaric bombs to cause devastation.