Russia’s Thermobaric Weapons: How Vacuum Bombs Work

KYIV, UKRAINE — A few of Russia’s feared thermobaric missile launchers have been seen entering the Ukraine, which means that large parts of Ukrainian suburbs could soon be vacuum bombed, leading to massive civilian casualties. Here are the details:


The Guardian reports that Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S. says Russia has started using thermobaric weapons to bomb Ukrainian cities.


This comes in the wake of multiple social media posts showing TOS-1 thermobaric missile launchers entering Ukraine.


The TOS-1 vehicle can fire 24 thermobaric missiles in 15 seconds, and each missile can destroy buildings within hundreds of meters of the detonation point.


The missile can be fired up to 6 kilometers away. When it hits its target, an initial charge distributes an aerosol made up of very fine material — which could be anything from a carbon-based fuel to tiny metal particles.


This highly flammable cloud is then ignited by a second charge. When the cloud erupts it creates a massive shockwave, as well as a vacuum as it sucks up all surrounding oxygen.


The blast wave can last for significantly longer than a conventional explosive and is capable of vaporizing human bodies.


It is however designed to destroy defensive positions, which means it causes massive damage to city buildings, while also causing many human casualties.


Dr. Marcus Hellyer of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says it’s only a matter of time before Russia starts using thermobaric weapons, as their use is “pretty standard” in terms of Russian warfare tactics. Hellyer said he expected to see more thermobaric warfare in Ukraine.