Russia Use of Vacuum Bomb in Ukraine Raises Concerns

Defense News , Russia :-  Russia purportedly deployed a highly controversial weapon, termed a "vacuum bomb," in recent military operations in Ukraine, claiming significant casualties among enemy forces. Also known as volumetric detonation bombs or thermobaric weapons, these munitions rely on a fuel-air mixture to unleash devastating blast waves.

With its composition consisting primarily of fuel, the vacuum bomb boasts an exceptional level of energy and potency compared to conventional explosives. The Russian Ministry of Defense asserted that an airstrike utilizing a vacuum bomb resulted in the deaths of approximately 300 Ukrainian soldiers.

While specifics regarding the strike's location remained undisclosed, Deputy Chief of the General Staff Colonel General Alexei Kim referenced a deployment point of the Ukrainian special intelligence unit, the 'Kraken' nationalist formation.

The destructive capabilities of vacuum bombs are profound, dispersing an aerosol cloud of gas, liquid, or powdered explosive to neutralize targets. Reports indicate that its blast is capable of collapsing buildings and causing severe internal injuries, rendering traditional defenses inadequate, including walls and caves.

These weapons, typically launched from hand-held launchers or aircraft, are exemplified by Russia's operation of the TOS-1A thermobaric weapon, notorious for its ability to deprive victims of breathable air.

Concerns over the potential use of such weaponry prompted calls for the Ukrainian military to preemptively neutralize these arms before they could be deployed against them.

Despite Russia's assertions, a spokesperson for the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine dismissed the claims as "absolute nonsense." He suggested that such statements might be part of Russia's broader propaganda efforts, which include unsubstantiated reports of casualties among Ukrainian forces in various regions.