
"Russia used a vacuum bomb in Ukraine" / What are thermobaric weapons and how do they work?
Fears have grown about the use of thermobaric weapons by Russia, as the Ukrainian ambassador to the US said a vacuum bomb had been used during the occupation.
The use of such weapons, which absorb oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion, has not yet been confirmed, although footage from Ukraine has shown thermobaric rocket launchers.
How do they work?
The thermobaric weapon, also known as an aerosol bomb or air-fuel explosive, is a two-stage ammunition.
The charge of the first phase disperses an aerosol composed of a very fine material - from a carbon-based fuel to small metal particles. A second charge ignites it, creating a fireball, a huge shock wave, and a vacuum as it absorbs all the oxygen around it.
The blast wave can last much longer than a conventional explosive and is able to disintegrate human bodies.
Such weapons are used for various purposes and come in a variety of sizes. What we can see in Ukraine is that Russia uses them in a "bunker-buster" role to destroy defensive positions. Extremely large, airborne versions have been created to destroy caves and tunnel complexes.
Where are they used?
The bombs have been used by Russian and Western forces since the 1960s. The U.S. relied on them in its efforts to eliminate al-Qaeda in the mountains in Afghanistan. Russia has a longer history of use with them than the west.
How dangerous are they?
According to Dr Marcus Hellyer, an expert at the Australian Institute for Strategic Policy, thermobaric weapons were effective in their "specific purpose" of "destroying mainly defensive positions".
While they would not be used to penetrate a tank, they could be a "very destructive weapon" against an apartment complex or other building.
"They are not illegal, although their effects can be quite terrible, because of that effect of creating a vacuum and inhaling air from the lungs of the defenders," he said.
Given that their use is "fairly standard" in terms of Russian tactics, Hellyer said he expected to see more thermobaric warfare in Ukraine.
"One of the things we know about Russian tactics is that they are ready to destroy everything."
Source: The Guardian
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