According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Russia has acknowledged the use of thermobaric weapons in the invasion of Ukraine. “The Russian Ministry of Defense has acknowledged the usage of the TOS-1A weapon system in Ukraine,” the ministry said in a tweet on Wednesday. “The TOS-1A creates incendiary and explosion effects with thermobaric rockets.”
The term “thermobaric” originates from the Greek words “hot” and “pressure,” and it refers to weapons that may cause far greater explosions than ordinary bombs. They have far greater fuel concentrations than standard firearms. When the bomb lands on its intended target, it disperses as an aerosol. The weapon then ignites this cloud, causing a massive and powerful explosion that absorbs nearby air and objects and may vaporize human bodies.
“It effectively generates the impression of a wall of flame approximately the size of a city block,” said former British military leader General Sir Richard Barrons to The Times, revealing that the weapons are designed to be used against huge military installations such as airbases. “It would be an escalation if it was used against military targets since it is such a large weapons system,” he added. “It would be a tremendous escalation if it were employed on civilian targets.”
The TOS-1A is a multiple launch rocket system mounted on a T-72 tank and dubbed “Buratino,” Russia’s Pinocchio owing to its large nose. Since the 1960s, these vehicles have been a mainstay of the Russian military, with many modernizations and modifications introduced over time. In reality, one of the most recent changes to the T-72s happened just a few days ago: during the 2022 invasion, some of the tanks were modified with homemade “cope cages” to protect them from anti-tank missiles.
Despite colliding with Ukrainian dirt and missiles, the T-72’s capacity to shoot thermobaric weaponry means it may still represent a significant danger to Ukraine’s citizens. According to British intelligence assessments, the impact was “devastating,” and Barrons told The Times that the TOS-1A “is a weapon that is both incredibly indiscriminate and very strong.” While thermobaric weapons are not prohibited by international law, using them against people constitutes a war crime, according to military expert and former RUSI director-general Professor Michael Clarke.
He explained, “It’s a combat weapon.” “If they’re employed anyplace else – especially in civilian areas – they’re utterly inhuman.” It would not be the first time Russia has been accused of war crimes – or even the first time against Ukraine – and the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) head prosecutor has declared that an inquiry into the continuing invasion will be launched.
At least 40 Ukrainians were killed by the TOS-1A in the Chernihiv district, according to Zvezdanews, a publication of the Russian military ministry. “Using thermobaric weapons would be Russia crossing yet another barbarity threshold,” Clarke said on Sky News. “They are fear weapons, as well as weapons of death and devastation, in the civilian setting.”
